Nigeria’s
most respected man of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has vowed to uproot
pastors with inordinate ambition from The
Redeemed Christian Church of God, which he oversees. Adeboye gave the
warning on Thursday, April 4, 2013 during a meeting with the Special Assistants
and Pastors in charge of different regions of the church, at KM. 46,
Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, Mowe, Ogun State. According to a document prepared to
this effect and signed by Adeboye’s Special Assistant, Administration and
Personnel, Pastor J.F Adesola, “Daddy makes it categorically clear to all
pastors to be wary of unguarded statements against his person, leadership
style, The RCCG as a church and day to day administration of the church because
all baseless accusations get back to him through people who dearly love him and
will go to any length to avoid his hard earned reputation being damaged by a
careless, opportunistic and inordinately ambitious pastor.
“Therefore,
Daddy G.O disclosed that he has never abused the power that God gave him.
Hence, it is uncharitable for anyone without irrefutable proofs to express,
introduce and insinuate tribal sentiments to his style of leadership of this
church. Also, it is totally false for anyone to view Daddy G.O as someone with
pecuniary tendencies. So, it is against this background that Daddy G.O vows
that as from now, if anyone is caught as the brain behind this evil, he will
not hesitate to use his God-given power to shamefully remove such culprit from
office”.
Beside
the issue of pastors with inordinate ambition as well as those spreading
unpleasant tales about the church, the other vital issue the Osun State born
influential preacher kicked against was pastors not paying their tithes. In the
words of his P.A again: “Daddy G.O recently observed in a parish that the directive
that ministers and members should separately drop their tithes in the baskets
placed in front of the altar is not being carried out. Not only that failure to
carry out this simple instruction is dangerous, it dishonors the ministers
because honour should be given to whom honour is due. Therefore, this directive
is hereby reiterated, that on every Sunday ministers and members should file
out and drop their tithes in the two (2) separate baskets placed in front of
them at the altar”.
It
would be recalled that there had been reported cases of some dissident pastors
rooting for Adeboye to
step aside from the leadership of the church, having attained
the age of 70, in 2012. More so, when four of the Assistant General Overseers
(Pastors M.O Ojo, Ilori, Aderibigbe and D. Ojo) towed that path upon becoming
septuagenarians. Pockets of unsavoury
stories have continued to trail that, with subtle jabs being doled out every
once in a while to those believed to be the masterminds.
As
a matter of fact, names of his alleged likely successors have continued to pop
up every now and then. At some point, the name of Pastor Ituah Ighodalo was all
over the place due to their closeness – until years later when he was eased
out. Now, it is the name of the church’s only General Evangelist, Pastor J.T
Kalejaiye that is on most lips. Interestingly, Adeboye was quoted as once
telling his congregation that his successor is still in a drinking joint, and
that the said person is yet to give his life to Christ.
Born
over 70 years ago, Adeboye holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics from the University of Lagos. Hitherto a
Mathematics lecturer at the Universities
of Lagos and Ilorin, Kwara State,
the Safari-loving servant of God started out an interpreter to the founder of the
church, Rev. Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi. The mantle of leadership, however, fell
on him in 1981, following the man’s demise. Married to Foluke (aka Mummy G.O)
and blessed with four children, Adeboye’s coming led to the monumental
transformation of the church which today boasts of about 15,000 branches
worldwide.
With
the astronomical growth, of course, came numerous challenges. One of them is
the issue of succession, which the man has vowed to disgrace all those behind
it, especially those that want to take over from him by force.
-GBENGA
SHABA
