I didn't cover the story when it all started last week because I was indisposed. (Still am) but ICYMI, here are all the details below..
THE Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, yesterday, said the sacked Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, FRCN, Mr. Jim Obazee, had vowed to remove the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye.
This revelation was made by Head of the church’s Media and Public Relations, Pastor Segun Adegbiji, who also confirmed that the embattled Obazee was a zonal pastor with RCCG and, at a time, refused to honour Pastor Adeboye’s summons over alleged infractions.
According to Adegbiji, when the General Overseer noticed some infractions and sent for the then zonal pastor, he (Obazee) immediately replied that he was in his office and if Pastor Adeboye really wanted to see him, he knew where to reach him.
Obazee had allegedly refused to suspend the implementation of the FRCN regulation that requires heads of all registered churches, mosques and other non-profit organisations to serve a maximum of 20 years in office and thereafter hand over to someone from outside their families.
Obazee reportedly insisted that only an official gazette would stop him.
Pastor Adegbiji further said that the recent changes announced by Pastor Adeboye, last week, which caused a stir in the polity, were informed by the provisions of the FRCN Act, explaining that the General Overseer does nothing without consulting God.
According to him, “God may have decided to carry out the reforms for a purpose though such appointments were not new to a growing church like RCCG which has branches in 192 nations of the world.
“The newly appointed country overseer, Pastor Joseph Obayemi may remain the overseer in charge of Nigeria operating from his current regional headquarters in Somolu in Lagos.
“The national headquarters of the church remains in Ebute Metta, Lagos, while the global headquarters is at the Redemption Camp, but the new country overseer, Pastor Obayemi may not immediately move to the Ebute Metta headquarters because it will be administratively inconvenient for him to operate from the headquarters of another region.”
He corrected the impression that the General Overseer, Pastor Adeboye had resigned and appointed a successor, saying: “The General Overseer has not stepped down. He is still the General Overseer of the church and the announcement has not diminished his schedule across the globe.”
He also corrected the impression that the new national overseer was a Special Assistant to the General Overseer, adding that Pastor Obayemi, who will now oversee RCCG’s 28 regions in Nigeria, was one of the seven senior pastors promoted Assistant General Overseers and members of the Governing Council, during the 2016 convention of the church last August.
Pastor Obayemi was a deputy in charge of Finance and a member of governing council in RCCG, before his appointment as the new Country/national Overseer of the church.
RCCG, with 14 parishes before Pastor Adeboye’s entrance, has grown to become one of Nigeria’s biggest with branches in 192 countries.
According to the PRO, the church may not have so designated them but most pastors overseas are actually regarded as country overseers, who act as liaison between the church and their host countries.
With the sack of Obazee and the dissolution of the FRCN Board, President Muhammadu Buhari may have temporarily saved the jobs of many prominent Pentecostal church leaders who have since passed the 20-year threshold.
Among them are Pastor William Kumuyi, who has spent 43 years as the General Suerintendent of Deeper Christian Life Ministry; Bishop Mike Okonkwo of the Redeemed Evangelical Mission (35 years); Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel’s Bishop David Oyedepo (35 yeas;) Dr. Daniel Olukoya of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (22); Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor of Word of Life Bible Church (29 years); Rev. Chris Okotie of the Household of God (29 years); Kingsway International Christian Centre’s Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo (24 years);. Others are Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Believers’ LoveWord International, alias Christ Embassy (26 years); Pastor Sam Adeyemi of Daystar Christian Centre (21 years); Pastor Tunde Bakare of Latter Rain Assembly (27 years); House on the Rock’s Pastor Paul Adefarasin (22 years) among others.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, yesterday, expressed confidence of market rebound, saying that the suspension of the FRCN corporate governance code will not affect foreign investment inflow into the country.
It also kicked against the proposed creation of multiple stock exchanges by the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, saying that the existing stock exchange does not have enough liquidity as of today.
NSE Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Oscar Onyema, who stated these during the review of the market performance in 2016 and outlook for 2017, said: “The suspension of the FRCN’s corporate governance code will not affect foreign investment inflow into the market and the country in general but will rather give them more confidence to invest in the market. There is more work to be done on the code to be able to address the teething problems.”
The SEC recently disclosed plan to further fragment the stock exchange to cater for Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs, in the country that are interested in listing but are encumbered by the stringent listing requirements as part of efforts to drive equity listing in the stock market.
By Anthony Ogbonna
ReplyDeleteThe founder and presiding Bishop of the megachurch, Faith Tabernacle, Bishop David Oyedepo has invoked God’s curses on those fueling Southern Kaduna killings, saying God should break up Nigeria now if it is His will. The Bishop who, during a ministration and while raining down curses on those promoting the wanton killings, equally said that God sent him to this continent as His apostle of liberation to stop it from decadence. “God sent me as His apostle of liberation to this continent to stop it from decadence.” “I heard from God and He has proved it beyond measure. Therefore, every occultic root, every political root of this uprising is cursed today!” The congregation shouted “Amen!” Bishop Oyedepo “All the northern forces that are sponsoring this uprising and killings, i decree the curse of God upon them.” Congregation shouted “Amen!” Speaks in tongues. Continuing, he said, ” Lord, if it is your will to break up Nigeria, break it now!” Speaks in tongues again. To his members, he said, “Come on, pray in the spirit everybody. Pray in the spirit, open fire, call down the Holy Ghost fire to descend on the camp of the enermy. Enough is Enough!” Speaks in tongues again. “If Nigeria wakes up, wait for the church to rise. There will be no more nation, what nonsense.” “What demonic devils. What Islamic demons. If Nigeria waits for the church to rise, Nigeria will disappear as a nation.” Speaks in tongue. “You mean God cannot protect people? What a mess!” “Every agent of destruction in Government today, call fire down on their head, call fire down on their head.” “Everyone sponsoring evil against the nation, let your fire fall on him!” “A Boko Haram agent was captured and they said he escaped. Everyone connected to his escape, fire consume them, consume them, consume them!” To his congregation, he said, “Go ahead and pray.” Prays in tongue. “Fire of the Lord consume them!” “I was even told from report that they were targeting this church. I said what?” “Even if i was asleep, if you see anybody here kill him! Kill him and spill his blood on the ground. I am saying that to you, what nonsense, what devil. You think our God is an idol?” The faithful shouted “No!” “If I put fire on your tail to overrun the city, you will do it in one minute. What is that? What devil?” “I stand today with every authority on me, and I declare the Boko Haram camp cursed!” “I declare their collaborators cursed! I decree their sponsors cursed!” “I declare their collaborators cursed. I decree their sponsors cursed!” “Must the north continue to rule?” “What devils!” “God has anointed me to lead a revolution against the Islamic jihadist and as the Lord liveth and as the anointing of Jeru-Baal that’s on me, we declare them extinct in the name of Jesus!” “Amen!” “You catch anyone that looks like them, kill him!” “There is no reporting to anybody. Kill him! Pull off his neck! And we spill his blood on the ground. What nonsense.” “They said why should Christians say they could defend themselves, hold it! What stupid statement, why should Christians say they could defend themselves? So, they should watch for you to put a knife to their necks?” “You think we are dummies? What! What?” “All those zeros census they are fake. Where are the human beings?” “Where are they? We go around the place. Where are they?” “We’ve never had a successful census in this country. Where are they?” “Don’t mistake only those in politics as in power. The anointed in the Lord are the ones in power. By divine ordination, don’t mistake that.” “There was a king in the land but Elijah was determining the events of the nation.” “If i say it will not rain here for three years, it will not drop. What nonsense!” “Who born their mother, who born their father? They are too small.” “Come! Get excited and walk in confidence. Any devil that misbehaves around you will be slain by the fire!” A thunderous “Amen” echoed from the congregation.
"According to Adegbiji, when the General Overseer noticed some infractions and sent for the then zonal pastor, he (Obazee) immediately replied that he was in his office and if Pastor Adeboye really wanted to see him, he knew where to reach him."-Insult of the highest order
ReplyDeleteWith the sack of Obazee and the dissolution of the FRCN Board, President Muhammadu Buhari may have temporarily saved the jobs of many prominent Pentecostal church leaders who have since passed the 20-year threshold. Among them are Pastor William Kumuyi, who has spent 43 years as the General Suerintendent of Deeper Christian Life Ministry; Bishop Mike Okonkwo of the Redeemed Evangelical Mission (35 years); Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel’s Bishop David Oyedepo (35 yeas;) Dr. Daniel Olukoya of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (22); Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor of Word of Life Bible Church (29 years); Rev. Chris Okotie of the Household of God (29 years); Kingsway International Christian Centre’s Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo (24 years);. Others are Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Believers’ LoveWord International, alias Christ Embassy (26 years); Pastor Sam Adeyemi of Daystar Christian Centre (21 years); Pastor Tunde Bakare of Latter Rain Assembly (27 years); House on the Rock’s Pastor Paul Adefarasin (22 years) among others. Now Obazee is their sacrificial lamb for implementing the law, these people are untouchables and gods........hmmmm
ReplyDeleteI thought this man was enforcing the Federal Government's law on Non-Profit Organizations? Is more like he is out for Adegboye.
ReplyDeleteAdeboye shld honour his word and resign that's how we know great men of God. I know many RCCG members may not accept his retireme nt in good fate but that's life.pastor adeboye shld just rest age is no longer on his side.
ReplyDeleteNigerians talk about God all the time but their heart is evil
ReplyDelete