By Linus Obogo
Beneath the sweeping grandeur of the iconic Calabar International Convention Centre, the Seventh Season of the Cross River Solemn Assembly unfolded in a spectacle of faith, gratitude and collective spiritual awakening. With the theme “Great Is His Faithfulness,” drawn from the timeless assurance of Book of Lamentations 3:23, the gathering ushered into the majestic halls of the Convention Centre an atmosphere so charged with devotion that many described it as a sacred convergence of the earthly and the celestial.
From the earliest hours of the day, streams of worshippers, men and women of every persuasion, profession and persuasion of faith, converged upon the sprawling edifice in a rare demonstration of unity and shared reverence. The Solemn Assembly, by its very design, transcends the familiar boundaries of creed, culture and political affiliation, drawing Cross Riverians from all walks of life into a singular moment of gratitude to the Almighty for His abiding grace upon the state and its people.
The cavernous interior of the Convention Centre soon became a living tapestry of prayerful expectancy. Rows upon rows of congregants filled the hall, their voices rising in symphony and anticipation, their hearts attuned to a higher calling. In that vast sanctuary of glass, steel and light, the mood was unmistakably reverent, yet brimming with a joyful intensity that seemed to ripple across the hall like a gentle tide of grace.
As the programme commenced, the first notes of praise reverberated through the chamber with breathtaking resonance. Choirs lifted melodies that floated like incense toward the heavens, while worship leaders beckoned the multitude into a chorus of thanksgiving. It was a moment when music transcended artistry to become pure devotion, weaving together voices, hearts and spirits in a seamless tapestry of adoration. The Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Odey took the first reading from the book of Psalms, 136:1-14, signalling the intent and purpose of this holy convergence.
Soon the hall was awash with the soaring cadences of praise worship, punctuated by fervent prayers that echoed with profound sincerity. Hands were lifted skyward; eyes closed in quiet supplication. The atmosphere grew palpably electric, as though the very air carried the resonance of faith. In those stirring moments, many testified that the Convention Centre had been transformed into a sanctuary where heaven itself seemed astonishingly near.
The theme of the assembly found eloquent expression in every prayer and proclamation. “Great is His faithfulness,” the faithful declared again and again, their voices swelling into a resounding affirmation of divine constancy. For Cross River State, a land blessed with remarkable beauty, resilient people and enduring hope, the words rang with particular poignancy, reminding all present of the providential hand that has guided the state through seasons of challenge and triumph alike.
Clergy, worship leaders and intercessors led the congregation through moments of reflection and supplication, invoking divine wisdom, peace and prosperity for the state and the nation. Prayers were offered for leaders, the state, the third tier of government, judges, lawmakers, traditional institution, families, communities and future generations, each petition rising with earnest hope that the Almighty would continue to guard and guide Cross River’s unfolding destiny.
What rendered the gathering especially remarkable was its profound inclusivity. Here were citizens of varied denominations, cultures and social stations united not by doctrine or ideology but by a shared acknowledgment of divine benevolence. In that sacred convergence, differences dissolved into a deeper communion of gratitude and collective aspiration.
As the hours passed, the spiritual fervour did not diminish but seemed only to deepen. Songs rose again in triumphant crescendos, prayers flowed with renewed fervency and the congregation responded with an almost palpable sense of upliftment. It was as though the solemn hall had become a living altar upon which thanksgiving, hope and unity were offered in joyful abundance.
By the close of the assembly, a profound stillness lingered within the Convention Centre, a gentle afterglow of faith and fellowship. Those who had gathered departed with hearts uplifted and spirits renewed, carrying with them the abiding conviction that indeed, as the scripture declares, the mercies of the Lord are new every morning, and great is His faithfulness.
