by Eze Eluchie,
By falling
for the trap set up for them, Pentecostal churches have set the pace for
further regulations which will eventually lead to their extinction, and which
may adversely impact freedom to practice the Christian faith in Nigeria and
compound the several schisms afflicting the Nigerian contraption.
Citing a ‘new
legal requirement’ announced by the Financial Regulation Council which forbids
heads of religious organizations from holding office for more than 20 years, the
Chief Executive Officer and General Overseer of one of Nigeria’s largest Pentecostal
churches, of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) announced that he was
stepping aside from his leadership position of the Nigerian branch of the
Church, though he would still retain control as the head of the ‘international
arm’ of the Church {a cunningly spurious attempt at compliance with the
regulations}. Other Pentecostal Churches were also cited as being on the verge
of similar compliance with the FRC’s regulations.
When it is
realized that previously, the membership of these churches had thought, or been
made to believe, that their leaders were ‘God-ordained’ or the ‘Elect-of-God’/’Man-of-God’,
then the assault on religious freedoms and beliefs occasioned by the FRC’s
regulation becomes more apparent. If religious leaders can be forced to depart
office by virtue of so-called legal requirements of the Financial Regulations
Council, then more regulation and harm is in sight. One does not need to be a
rocket scientist to conclude that the Sultan of Sokoto, who also doubles as the
head of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, will not comply with this
regulation and step aside from this position – the target of the ‘financial
regulations’ are crystal clear from the announcement of the regulations. This same
Sultan, in flagrant display of his self-accorded 'supra-constitutional' status, had stated
unequivocally that Muslims cannot be expected to comply with provisions the
Nigerian Constitution for equality of the sexes; as such equality is not in
conformity with injunctions of the Islamic faith.
Interestingly,
these Pentecostal Churches as exemplified by Mr. Enoch Adeboye (alias G.O./CEO
of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, whose Personal Assistant also surreptitiously
happens to be his own son and who opted on a queer ethnocentric appointments of
his own replacements) and his cohorts, who are blinded by greed and the desire
to retain their ‘closeness’ to the political rulers, have unwittingly set an
unquenchable fire on their own house, a fire that will consume much more than the
personalities who fell for the trap.
With the
high flying Pentecostal pastors, some of who own fleet of private jets whilst
most of their congregation exist below the poverty line, queuing in line to
comply with regulations from the FRC, will the Islam-centric government of
Muhammadu Buhari feel emboldened to tell the Catholic or Anglican Bishops or
other Heads of so-called orthodox churches to forcefully vacate office? Is this scenario the next phase of these FRC regulations? Will
these Churches take such interference lying low?
These Pentecostals
have set the stage for further regulations, perhaps regulating time and length
of prayers, size of congregations, declarations of tithes and other incomes et
al. .....
Picture: CEO/General
Overseer of one of Nigeria’s richest and fastest growing Pentecostal churches,
Mr. Enoch Adeboye.
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