NIGERIA'S largest white garment religious sect the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) is facing the risk of being torn apart after different members of the founder Reverend Samuel Oshoffa's family have laid claims to its leadership.  

Ever since Reverend Oshoffa died in 1985, the CCC has been torn into different factions, as a bitter succession battle ensued between his numerous children and church elders. Because there were no clear secession guidelines, each faction claimed it was ordained by God to take over the leadership of the church. 

This has resulted in lengthy and messy court battles and last week, Reverend Olatoso Matthew Oshoffa the founders' 20th child, won a court order making him the church's spiritual; head. On March 26, an Ilaro High Court in Ogun State had terminated the tenure of Reverend Emmanuel Oshoffa, under whom Olatoso served as a personal assistant. 

However, some members of the Oshoffa’s family have refused to accept Olatoso as the unification leader of the church despite CCC elders asking al aggrieved parties to sheathe their swords. Some members of the Oshoffa family faulted the declaration, with a spokesperson for the group, Senior Evangelist Ebenezer Oshoffa, saying the family did not support him. 

He said: “The family has always avoided public interference in the affairs of the Celestial Church of Christ, founded by our dear father. However, it has become imperative for us to speak out as a family because our son and brother, Senior Evangelist Olatoso Oshoffa, is involved. 

“Some self-centered elders of the church have found an avenue for vendetta by installing Olatoso Oshoffa with a lot of unwarranted fallacies. It should be known that the family did its best to stop recent happenings as we held meetings for peace and stability of the church and Olatosho was, among other things, asked to retrace his steps." 

“Our loyalty remains with Reverend Mibiyina Oshoffa. Our dream is that of a unified CCC, the heritage of our late father, Reverend Samuel Oshoffa.” 

Church elders, however, urged aggrieved parties to embrace peace, saying the emergence of Olatoso as the unification leader of the church was divinely ordained. This group, led by Senior Evangelist Adeola Emmanuel and Senior Evangelist Johnson Olakunle, among others,  said the church could not move forward without a divinely anointed leader. 

“Following the judgement of the Ilaro High Court which terminated the leadership of our former pastor, Reverend Emmanuel Oshoffa, our great church has been without headship. Now that the Lord has chosen a new leader for His church in the person of Reverend Olatoso Oshoffa, we should bury our differences and embrace him for the benefit of all,” the elders added.