The Untold Story of Jesus of Ikot-Ekpene, EDIDEM BASSEY

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This is story back in time. It is a story of a man who lived like an emperor, who lived as if the world would never end but about whom very little is known. This piece attempts to amalgamate the most reliable information found on him. He proclaimed himself as Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Saviour and the Lord. While some viewed him as raving mad, his ‘madness’ attracted hordes of devoted worshippers to his territory. Soon, news spread all over and beyond Eastern Nigeria, of a strange man named Edidem Bassey, revered by his followers and branded the Jesus of Ikot-Ekpene. Today, the city of Ikot-Ekpene is located in Akwa Ibom State, a state that has the densest concentration of churches on earth. Ikot-Ekpene is regarded as the cultural and political centre of the Annangs and Ibibios and it is represented in the Nigerian Senate by a former governor of the state, Godswill Obot Akpabio.

Bassey in July 1961.

  Now, let’s roll back in time. When the Christian missionaries arrived Nigeria, Ikot-Ekpene was one of the first destinations. And they arrived with fire and brimstone, their goal was to convert everyone from what they regarded as African paganism to Christianity. The influence of Christianity is still very strong and visible in Ikot-Ekpene till date. However, since the native people already had their own set of traditional beliefs, what later emerged over time in some areas of Ikot-Ekpene was a blend of Christianity and African traditional religions, leading to a curious strand of syncretism that produced people like Edidem Bassey.

He lived a life others could only dream of. Even his umbrellas were carried by his disciples.

  Bassey’s case was not an isolated one. At about the same time, other men in various parts of Nigeria were claiming to be the Messiah, from Immanuel Odumosu aka Jesu Oyingbo in Lagos to Olumba Olumba Obu in Calabar, the business was booming for these self-appointed saviours of the planet. Back to Bassey’s story, he started out as a truck pusher but with time, he saw that the truckpushing business was not paying him well and that he needed a better calling. That was when he decided to give the people what they were yearning for spiritually – he declared himself to be Jesus Christ. Soon enough, this proved to be a masterstroke of financial success for him as he became the richest man in all of Ikot-Ekpene. He constructed the biggest and the most luxurious house in all of Ikot-Ekpene and his flamboyance knew no bounds. His clothes were made of the finest materials around and he had a specially-constructed throne for himself and every year, he would be carried by his devotees around the streets of Ikot-Ekpene on this special throne of his.

  Bassey was not just about extravagance alone; he had absolute and unfettered power over his followers. They were so devoted and subservient to him that his male devotees were madly excited anytime Bassey decided to choose any of their wives to warm his massive bed. Bassey could sleep with any of the ladies in his congregation, including the married ones, and their husbands would be jubilating for being the ‘chosen one’ by Daddy Bassey. What was happening in Bassey’s enclave was the ultimate form of mind control and his followers, in all sincerity, did not see him as a human being. To them, Bassey was God Almighty and for God Himself to stoop down from his mighty throne and become a mere mortal who wants to copulate with their wives was the height of joy for them. They did not see anything wrong with it. And Bassey did sleep with as many of the women in his congregation. His empire stood on three pillars: sex, money and power. He enjoyed his life to the fullest, to the detriment of his gullible followers. The life of Edidem-Bassey was appropriately captured in an article inDrum  of July 1961. It went thus:

‘In the whole of Ikot-Ekpene, in Eastern Nigeria, Jesus Ededem Bassey, a former truck pusher, is today regarded as the richest man. Nor is his great wealth exaggerated. For one thing, he has the most expensive building in Ikot-Ekpene. For another thing, he leads a life of luxury beside which that of any Oriental potentate of legend would pale into insignificance.

He has a throne on which he is dragged through all the nooks and corners of Ikot-Ekpene once a year. He has male followers who obey his bidding without question. He is a god and can take any woman (provided she is one of his own flock) he fancies. It does not matter that the woman may be married to one of his male followers. That he, a god, condescends to fancy his wife at all is accepted by any of his male followers as the greatest honour that a god can do to a mere mortal.’

Bassey’s resting place is venerated as a shrine by his followers.

According to his believers, the photos below show the place in Oron Kingdom where Bassey drew a line for angels to pass and pray for the peace of Nigeria: 

His resting place at Oron.

SO WHAT HAPPENED TO EDIDEM’S LEGACY?

Edidem’s followers believe he is the same as Jesus Christ. His church is named the Spiritual Kingdom Church of Christ (SKCC).

Below are photos of his church headquarters: 

Well, after I published this piece, one of those who responded to it was Orphiel Edidem, who is a grandson of the late Edidem Bassey. Orphiel, who studied engineering at the Batumi Navigation Teaching University and lives in Tbilisi, Georgia said their name is not Etim. He also said categorically that the late Edidem Bassey, is grandfather, was truly the only begotten Son of God, these were his exact words:

Abiyamo to start with you got the name all wrong… Etim is never our name… Edidem Bassey is the only begotten son in which God in Heaven is well pleased before sending him as an ever lasting favor to man kind… Desist from such blackmail in other not to lead the elite astray…. His throne is everlasting and exactly where Gods almighty voice and power remains for ever.

In this post on Facebook, there is an argument over the authenticity of the Edidem’s gospel, see HERE

The current Edidem with one of his fiercest loyalists, Mr. Israel Happylife. For some reasons I am yet to find out, the current Edidem was reportedly banished at a point by his father, Edidem Bassey. 

Worshippers of the Edidem.

He did not stop there, he also said that his own father took over the throne after Edidem Bassey died so I can confidently say the Edidem Bassey religious empire is now a proper dynasty. Below are the photos of the son of the late Edidem Bassey, who is now worshipped as the God, the Holy Trinity, Son of God and the Holy Spirit of God in Ikot-Ekpene and its environs. He is referred to as a Spiritual King and addressed as ‘His Lordship’ and you can see what his worshippers wrote about him in the photos below:

Worshippers of the Edidem in one of his churches. See more of his worshippers below: 

     

Ann Edidem is another of Edidem’s devoted disciples.

The Edidem aka the Promised Comforter awaits departure at an airport with his sons.

This is the current occupier of the throne and according to his son, he is alive and sound reigning in his palace over his subjects. He was born on a 1st of February.

Below are more photos of the current Edidem and his worshippers:

The Edidem is shown here conducting the final marriage rites for his devotee, Evangelist Tonye Edidem, in November 2015. His devotees pray in the name of Edidem and also take after his name. See more photos from the marriage ceremony below. Credits: Evangelist Tonye Edidem. 

This is Obie Juboye after he was anointed to serve by the His Holiness, the Edidem, in November 2015. Juboye is one of his numerous subjects. Credits: Obie Juboye.

The influence of the Edidem over his followers is real and this was a post made on the 1st of January by Sabanor Bassey, one of his adherents:

It wasn’t easy but it was working- jus like Emperor Sennacherib’s boast to King Hezekiah was void & null, d devil’s plan was a nullity b4 GOD OF EDIDEM. Thank you JEHOVAH GOD OF( My Father) EDIDEM whom through thy unlimited & insurmountable power has brought d powers of dumb idols to a nullity thus, Satan & its agents are confounded, disgraced & thrown into confusion. I will worship & adore thee forever for You are the only GOD, you’ll be GOD forever- Amen!!!!!!!!!

A 2008 graduate of the University of Abuja, Sabanor Bassey hails from Ikot-Ekpene and is one of the followers of the Edidem. She prays to God through him as seen in her post below.

Just as Christians have Christmas, the birthday of the Edidem is called EDIDEMAS and is celebrated with a lot of pomp and excitement.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.