Christians leaders across denominations of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria have been expressing concerns over the choice of who becomes the next chairman of the Fellowship in Lagos.
Views sampled across various groups of the members and Christians leaders in the state have called on concerned leaders to make sure that the new set of leaders are men and women of good character.
The term of the current leadership of Apostle Eyinnaya Okuwonu ends this June 2022, and a new set of executive is expected to take over.
The state chapter of the pentecostal movement lost its former chairman, Bishop Olusola Ore who passed on in 2021, and his term was completed by his vice, Apostle Eyinnaya Okuwonu. This month of June 2022, the pentecostal body is set to put a new executive in place, and this has thrown open the field to several candidates, one of which would be chosen by the fathers of the movement at the state and national level.
Information has it that “the apprehension of the Church leaders and sundry Christians in the state has to do with the quality of one of the people showing interest in the chairmanship position.
Some of the Pastors and Christians in the state expressing such concerns are suggesting that the PFN leadership should investigate a four-year sermons and activities of all contestants so that Christians in the state would know that the best person is leading them.
In their private groups, virtual meetings, monitored by PTL News and a follow-up discussion with Christian journalists, the group of the concerned pastors feel it would be disastrous for the state to make mistakes in choosing any character known to be shady both in the terrestrial and spiritual milieu to be their chairman.
In a group meeting, Pastor Mike Ojo said, “We are silently observing the developments to see where the tide will blow. We wonder if the Church fathers in Lagos would pander to the revival or burial of the image of the pentecostal Church by the choice they want to make in the weeks to come.”
According to him, “One of the characters showing interest is well known for his shady deals within and outside Nigeria,” alleging that there were reports of him impersonating the children of one of the founding fathers of the Nigerian Pentecostal movement.” He warned that the pentecostal leaders who would be saddled with the choice of the new chairman should not fall for men or women of shaddy characters.
He wrote, that one of those contending for the coveted seat of the chairman of PFN in the state is the one who was known to “deprecate the supernatural and miracles by telling people to touch his sweat and make payments to see the power of God in their lives,” and not those who are alleged “to be sleeping with women in their Church and found in shady relationships with men and women of questionable characters.
“Suddenly, they came into a questionable wealth which they fling about as offerings to buy Church fathers so that they would be reckoned with and chosen as the chairman of Lagos PFN. We are watching the development to know if the Lagos PFN would further drown its image or rescue it,” the pastor alleged.
In another response, Apostle Okunmade O. Isaac, in Ikorodu, advised that “this is the time for the Lagos movement to assert that eternal life is weightier than money.”
He said, “There have been speculations that one of the contestants is going about throwing the weight of his money to become our leader in Lagos. Some of us have decided to watch and see the credibility of our leaders. We don’t elect our leaders. We cede the power to people we regard as fathers. A body will sit on Tuesday to check the image and records of those interested in leading the pentecostal body in Lagos. This body will recommend two names to the South West chairman, and the chairman will present the names to the National President, who will pick one name.
Apostle Okunmade who noted that the process of selecting a state chairman is questionable and flawed, added that “You cannot place an organisation as big as Lagos PFN, the hub of the Nigerian Pentecostal movement, in the hands of one or two people. There should be a proper selection method where more people, even the Church as a body, would be involved. This selection of Lagos chairman will show the credibility of this process,” he explained.
Pastor John Mike Nliam of a Pentecostal church in Okokomaiko, raised concern that the PFN fathers in Lagos should bring out the profiles of the candidates and do a thorough investigation of their activities and contents online, rather than just sitting in their offices to pick a name to lead such an office so holy.
Also speaking on the contestants, Bishop Simon Bode Ololade of Power of God Bible Church in Sango Ota said he has refused to associate with the pentecostal body because of “this craze for money, power and influence of some of the members” aleging that “Just anybody, once you can dole out the cash, can be ordained a Bishop, and being a bishop has been elevated to a status symbol, especially in the South West.
“Someone with a very dappled pedigree was consecrated a Bishop and, later, an archbishop. Today he is scheming to be the Lagos Chairman. He has been giving offerings all over the place to be selected. He was also said to have been a fundraiser for Lagos PFN recently, where he attempted to work himself into the hearts of Lagos PFN big wigs. All these shenanigans are known to us. But we are watching if money will buy him the job.”
“We call on all pastors, Christians, journalists and the fathers of PFN in Lagos, Pa Folorunsho Kumuyi, Pa Enoch Adeboye, Rev. Wale Adefarasin, Bishops David Oyedepo and Mike Okonkwo, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, Archbishops Joseph Ojo and Osa-Oni, Mama Mercy Ezekiel, Bishop Abraham Olaleye and so many others not to watch in silence and allow the Lagos PFN be dragged in the mud.”
Praying about the forth-coming selection, the Pastor Tola T. Okeowo of one of the RCCG parishes in Egbeda, Lagos prays that the image of the pentecostal movement, which is currently challenged by the activities of shady men, will not plummet any further.
“It is time to build our image, have a strong body that can stand its own anywhere, especially now that the nation is going into a serious political era and the Church must dictate the pace. Any attempt to sell our leadership to fundraisers and exploitative characters would bring negative results,” they expressed.
PTL News gathered that a body will sit on Tuesday to check the image and records of those interested in leading the pentecostal body in Lagos. This body will recommend two names to the South West Chairman, and the Chairman will present the names to the National President, who will pick one name.
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