Editors note: The presiding bishop and founder of Living Faith Church World Wide, popularly known as Winners’ Chapel, David Oyedpo is in the spotlight again for describing the Supreme Court’s validation of the election of the governor of Akwa Ibom state, Udom Emmanuel, as a the triumph of “light over darkness.
Political commentator Kess Ewubare higlights how Oyedepo once again goofed by claiming the Supreme Court validation of Udom Emmanuel’s election was God’s doing.
On Wednesday, February 10, Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom state held a thanksgiving service to celebrate the February 3 Supreme Court judgment which affirmed his election as governor of Akwa Ibom state.
Bishop Oyedepo is well known as a preacher with close ties to those of the political class.
Present at the opulent event which held at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo, included Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state, former governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswan, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa state and Bishop Oyedepo, amongst others.
When delivering his speech on behalf of PDP governors, Fayose as usual, who has earned a reputation for attacking the present administration made a fiery accusation that the APC stole the mandate of the PDP through deceit and propaganda.
Fayose also reiterated an earlier statement by Bishop David Oyedpo, describing the victory of Udom at the apex court as a victory of light over darkness.
The triumph of light over darkness
Bishop Oyedepo had earlier in the program delivered a sermon themed: Who am I, O Lord God, in which he described the Supreme Court’s validation of the election of Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state as the triumph of “light over darkness.”
In his words: “We are celebrating the victory of light over darkness. What we are celebrating here is the supreme hand of God in the affairs of men. And I also want to say it is important to know why we need to do this. Thanksgiving is a debt we owe for every act of God we experience.
“I want to acknowledge the privilege to be here to share the word of God and also acknowledge at the same time all our governors, past and present, who are here and all top government functionaries who are in this service.
Although the bishop did not elaborate on what he meant by “We are celebrating the victory of light over darkness. What we are celebrating here is the supreme hand of God in the affairs of men”, but his statement connotes that the PDP administration is the light and the APC administration, the darkness and that God played an active role in Governor Emmanuel Udom’s Supreme Court victory.
From a religious standpoint, it is disheartening to listen to such a message from a religious leader who likely has APC members in his congregation.
Oyedepo’s reputation is fast diminishing considering his penchant for using his pulpit as an avenue to fraternize with politicians.
As the bishop of politicians, he has earned a reputation for telling politicians what they want to hear and not what the bible says.
Bishop Oyedepo once allowed Goodluck Jonathan to use his church to campaign for votes.
This was what he did in the weeks building up to the 2015 general elections when he allowed Goodluck Jonathan to use his church as an avenue to campaign for votes.
As one of the die-hard supporters of the former president, Oyedepo prayed and prophesied for the success of Jonathan’s re-election bid. It was then reported that the prominent cleric even sparked controversy by threatening to open the gate of hell on those opposing the former president.
It is on record that David Oyedepo was among Christian religious leaders who endorsed Jonathan as their preferred candidate for the 2015 presidential election, in the name of God, at a meeting at the Redemption Camp of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) last year.
He was among the league of so called men of God under the umbrella of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) who presented Jonathan as a Christian leader who had the interest of the Christians at heart, all in a bid to garner votes from unsuspecting Christians.
Oyedepo was prominent among Christian leaders who endorsed the corrupt administration of Goodluck Jonathan for second term.
More shameful was the allegation that the sum of N7billion was given to these so called Christian leaders as supposed payment for the endorsement of Jonathan’s re-election bid.
But their endorsement and prophesies failed just like the prophets of Baal who could not call down fire from haven when asked to do so by Prophet Elijah.
A prophet of God or a prophet of Baal?
Following the Dasukigate scandal, Ekitigate scandal and other alleged corrupt practices thought to have been carried out by the Jonathan administration which had the backing of Christian leaders like Bishop Oyedepo, one would have thought the bishop would have learnt his lesson by distancing himself from politics and face his preaching work.
But his recent comments in Akwa Ibom shows that he has once again started making opinionated statements and attributing them to God all in the bid to curry favour from politicians.
It is wise for Nigerians to beware of certain Christian leaders in CAN who have soiled their hands and stained their garments with bribes following the 2015 general elections.
From what I watched on Channels TV, the Inter-denominational thanksgiving service put together to celebrate Governor Udom Emmanuel Udom’s victory must have cost a lot of money to organise. Funds which should have been put to good use was lavished on hosting politicians and selfish religious leaders who are more interested in their share of the national cake than the Christian ministry.
In the light of allegations that the judiciary is a stumbling block to the anti-corruption war, I choose to disagree with Oyedepo’s message that the PDP which has plunged Nigeria into 16 years of hardship is the light.
But it is not surprising that Oyedepo who once slapped a young girl in church in the name of God would utter personal statements and attribute then them God.
Is Bishop David Oyedepo a prophet of God or a prophet of Baal? By their fruits ye shall know them.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the editorial policy of Naij.com.
