A new year shocker came the way of millions of members of the
Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), yesterday, when the General
Overseer (G.O), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, announced a new leader for
the church in the country.
Adeboye, clad in a blue patterned batik material, at the Ministers’
Thanksgiving Service, announced three names and urged members to pray
for them.
The new General Overseer of the church in Nigeria is Pastor Joseph
Osuolale Obayemi, while the new church Secretary is Pastor Johnson
Folorunsho Odesola and the treasurer, Pastor Joseph Adeyokunu.
Adeboye, who has been the GO of the church since 1981, when he was
ordained by the founder of RCCG, Rev. Josiah Akindayomi, said though the
new GO, Obayemi will oversee the Nigerian arm, he remains the GO of
RCCG worldwide. He said the church now has presence in 192 countries
globally.
Just like what happened in the banking sector between 2009 and 2010,
when the Federal Government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),
after removing some banks Chief Executive Officers (CEO) for alleged
financial impropriety, went ahead to announce a 10-year tenure for
banks’ CEOs, same appeared to be playing out gradually in churches in
Nigeria.
Adeboye, at meeting with ministers, which took place in the church’s
new auditorium, Shimawa, Ikorodu, Lagos, explained that the Nigerian
regulation now limits the tenure of church GOs and “this will affect
other General Overseers like me, including Oyedepo of Winners; Kumuyi of
Deeper Life; Olukoya of Mountain of Fire, among others.”
It was gathered that the announcement was informed by the new legal
requirements of the Financial Regulations Council, guiding all
registered churches, mosques and civil society organisations, which give
a maximum of 20 years for any leader to be in charge.
Under the law, GOs are not permitted to handover the leadership of
the organisation or religious establishment to their immediate families
On the choice of Obayemi as the new GO, Adeboye, who was listed among
the top 50 most influential people in the world in 2008 by Newsweek
Magazine, said the new GO and others mentioned had been prepared for
years by God for the task.
According to him, Obayemi has been part of the mission’s Salary
Review Committee; member of in-Land Mission Committee and has
represented the church at different times on the executive committees of
the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and Christian Association
of Nigeria (CAN) fora.
Odesola, the new secretary is an Assistant General Overseer and is
the pastor-in-charge of the Church’s headquarters in Ebute Meta.
Obayemi was until his new appointment a member of the governing council of the church.
Adeboye said from the 28 prophecies the Lord revealed to him on December
24, 1979, concerning the church, the 27th came to pass in November
2016. He called on the RCCG members in Nigeria to register with any
political party of their choice and become card-carrying members.
He explained that RCCG is influential in Nigeria and globally, saying
such must be maintained. He said members must have cards showing they
belong to political parties “so that when they are holding meeting at
the ward level, you are there to choose a delegate and contribute your
own quota to the development of your community and Nigeria as a whole.”
Adeboye said as at last year, the church had spent about N500b on
scholarship for children in the church. He announced that the RCCG
yearly special fasting and prayer programme will begin on January 11 and
ends February 19 (40-days), saying that as many members that can have
White Fast can do theirs for 20 days. White fast is one done with fruits
and food without salt, sugar and oil.
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