Day of glory as Uyo hosts 9, 999 singing angels

For the inhabitants of Uyo and the entire people of Akwa Ibom State, the recent Christmas carol would go into the history books as the World’s largest Christmas party, where a mammoth crowd of about 10,000 gath­ered at a single location to celebrate God.

The reason for bringing together the big­gest assemblage of carol singers on earth was to enable the citizens of Akwa Ibom to give God a special thanksgiving through the harvest of praise in appreciation of his blessings upon the state and Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio, for transforming the state into an El Dorado.


More importantly, the night provided a good platform for Akpabio to thank God for His mercies, to thank the people for the massive support he enjoyed in his two terms as governor, and like Oliver Twist, canvass their votes to win the February 2015 election to the senate.
Numbering 9,999, the group of singers drawn from churches across the state, was put together by Akpabio on December 20, 2014, to bring together sons and daughters of the oil-rich state, both at home and in the Diaspora, to forge a sustainable unity among them and the entire people of Nigeria. It was part of activities to celebrate the Christmas and subsequently usher in the New Year. Beyond that, it was a deliberate move by the government to promote the carol as an annual spiritual tourism product in the region.
As the evening wore on, and with most of the dignitaries already inside the expansive stadium, the master of ceremony did not waste much time to announce the programme for the day as he quickly invited the guests to their seat. On the high table was the governor, his wife, Mrs. Ekaette U. Godswill Akpabio, the deputy governor, Mrs. Valerie Ebie, SSG, commissioners and top government officials. His special guests include American civil rights leader and Baptist minister, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Deputy Prime Minister, St. Kitts and Nevis in the Dominican Island. On the pulpit to give the sermon of the day was Cardinal John Onaiyekan; the Bishop of Abuja supported by the retired Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence, Rev. Sunday Mbang, also an indigene of the state.
As members of the first family planted themselves on their seats, the Ibom Orchestra and AKSG Choir sang the National Anthem and went on to render the state’s anthem Abadi Abasi Enyeto, and the crowd broke into rapturous ovation, either clapping or dancing to the heavy rhythm from the speakers.
Venue of the event, the newly built Akwa Ibom International Stadium, Uyo, overflowed with indigenes, tourists, and other groups of people that came from far and near to witness the seventh edition of the annual event, taking place for the first time in the main bowl of the newly-built stadium.
The governor, who read the first and only Bible reading taken from Matthew 1:18-23, reminded Nigerians about the significance of the first carol night in Bethlehem. He explained that only the poor shepherds heard the first carols from heaven that day that Jesus Christ was born, declaring that the carols in Uyo, would however be heard in 59 countries in the world, through the DSTV, NTA and other channels of transmission. “As we celebrate Christmas, this is a period of togetherness and peace among us. As an uncommon people, in an uncommon place, worshipping an uncommon God, for the uncommon transformation of our land, we need uncommon praise to remain connected with God.”
While declaring the event open, Akpabio informed the gathering that the essence of the carol night was to reconnect the good people of Akwa Ibom State with God, saying the state remained one loved by God. He said the move was equally targeted at spiritual transformation and rebirth, adding that this was what the state needed to move it to the next level. He noted that a people without the fear of God could not connect with the vision of the state government to help it achieve its mandate.
“Two years ago, I promised that this uncommon stadium would be ready for this uncommon service. I have always said that it is the will of God that His people in Akwa Ibom State live in a peaceable habitation. It is the will of God that his people prosper. Through prosperity shall my kingdom be spread abroad. Other states celebrate cultural festivals but Akwa Ibom play Christian carol to praise the Almighty God. It is the will of God that the people that were in darkness now see the light. It is the will of God that those that were disconnected by reason of river stream and other natural barriers are now connected by good bridges, because a bridge builder is in power. It is the will of God that wasted cities are repaired and built. It is the will of God that people’s destinies and moral values are restored. All over the nation, a typical Akwa Ibom boy or girl were regarded as servants with general names like Akpan and Ekaette. Every home video then must have Akpan as a gatekeeper and Ekaette as house help. But a man came to restore the dignity of our people through the will of God. Oh my God! It is the will of God that his people should be taught about God and none shall be ignorant and that was accomplished by the free and compulsory education in the state. God’s will is that he will make ways in the wilderness and waters in the desert that was accomplished by the construction of good roads to the remote and rural communities with water fountains all over the state.
The will of God is that our sun shall no more go down neither shall our moon withdraw itself, that was accomplished by the state-of-the-art streetlights in the state. God’s will is that it is not only Jerusalem that should be a place of worship that was accomplished by turning all the senatorial district headquarters into towns. It is the will of God for his people to praise him and offer him thanks for the great transformation already witnessed in the state. This is manifested in the yearly Christmas carol organised in the state, other states place their demand through carnival but Akwa Ibom places her demand through praise and thanksgiving. Oh my God!”
At this, the people cheered their leader like he was a triumphant Caesar from a war campaign. Akpabio, who was in high spirit, validated his people’s reverence of him when he spoke of the battle his administration had fought in the last seven and half years, and won against poverty, illiteracy, and other social ills in the state.
Hear him: “Today we have e-library, gas processing plant, International Airport, underground sewage system, Hilton Hotel, Uyo, Ibom Hotel, Ikot Ekpene, good road network, the best designed stadium in Africa, and several industries. We are preparing Akwa Ibom children to work in these industries and no more as house helps in Lagos or elsewhere. As you know, when next I come, I hope to be a special guest of honour in 2015 as Senator of the Federal Republic. Thank you all!”
After this, the Brass Band group decked in colourful costumes and with heavy equipment, thrilled the guests with wonderful performance of the King’s songs and parade.
In his brief exhortation after the interlude, Cardinal Onaiyekan harped on the need for Nigerians to love one another. According to him: “The important lesson is that we are challenged to have greater concern for children. My heart goes out to babies who are being born right now in distressful conditions. We think of children being born in emergency camps, occasioned by Boko Haram, in theatres of war, in Lebanon, Syria, etc. Here in Nigeria, our displaced people manage to sleep under the trees, but refugees in Syria sleep in the open.” He therefore charged politicians to speedily address the security issues in the society so that peace could return to the country.
Spicing the event with international touch was the electrifying performance of the invited band from the USA. This group came out powerfully with scintillating songs and energetic dancing steps, which held the guests spellbound. But setting the spirit of the audience on fire for the Lord was the great performance of global gospel singer-legendry Don Moen. The 64-year-old minister danced as he rendered his favourite songs, God is Good, Allelujah, Sacrifice, and Celebrate, Jesus Celebrate.
Then came local gospel crooners like Buchi, Panam Percy Paul and Old School, Bongos Ikwue. His track Amen released in the 80s was the last song of the night, thus putting a seal on all the prayers and thanksgiving made out to God. The 9,999 Choir gave a good account of itself by its superlative rendering of Once in Royal David City, Joy to the World and Hark, Hark, the Angels sing. The choristers, dressed in white upon black, looked immaculate as they rendered the choruses in unison, with the piano accompaniment from the centre of the stadium. They occupied every available space in the stadium and their intimidating presence was awesome.
Thus, AKSG Christmas Carol Night has become one of the tools for the promotion of tourism in the state. If anyone is in doubt, such person should try getting hotel accommodation in Uyo when the carol night is near, said Aniekan Umanah, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Communications. “Check the hotels around, you will see that they all have been fully booked. This is good business.”
As early as 6pm, tourists, visitors, and citizens from every nook and cranny had begun to besiege the venue of the important event in a bid to get seats located at strategic positions, where they could catch a glimpse of the event without obstruction. Indeed one interesting aspect of the event was the coordinated manner in which visitors and residents comported themselves. They were organised and orderly, thereby putting to rest a situation of confusion and possible stampede often witnessed in events of such magnitude. There was an ambulance with medical team, a bomb disposal unit and scores of security men, especially mobile policemen.