Crises In Celestial Church

P.M. News (Lagos), June 1, 2004

Posted to the web June 1, 2004, Adewale Busari, Lagos

Crisis has been recurrent at Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) since the demise of its founder, reports ADEWALE BUSARI ince the demise of the spiritual leader and founder of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), Pastor Bilewu Oshoffa, the church and its membership had been locked in acrimonious leadership crisis.

To solve the leadership crisis, they even violated the Biblical injunction that Christians should not drag themselves before worldly judges.

The legal tussle initiated by Pastor Owodunni against the late Pastor Abiodun Bada dragged on from the High Court to the Supreme Court, where it was held that if a new leader must emerge in the CCC, the church constitution must be amended to pave way for a pastor and spiritual leader.

Following the judgment, many of the high ranking officers in the church were criminally charged before an Ikeja Magistrate Court for conspiracy and forgery.

The leaders reportedly (unlawfully) forged the church constitution in other to pave way for the favored candidate of theirs. Even the late Most Senior Evangelist, Gilbert Jesse, was so charged.

However, recent developments in the church promise to be even deadlier than witnessed in the past, as Satan or the deity may be dragged into the fray.

The current crisis, if not checked, some members of the church believe, would certainly drag the church into disrepute.

A press statement signed by GSE S. A. Ojetoye, Chairman, Council of Honorary Evangelists, told the world that members of dreaded Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) were recently invited to dislodge perceived opponents from a Celestial Church premises here in Lagos.

According to the statement, the unending feud has now assumed a worrisome dimension, as the Ketu Parish, which is described as the most "aggressive," has launched a vicious bid to take over the more financially buoyant parishes such as North Central Parish, Abuja which has now shifted base to CCC, Okeho, Ire Akari Estate Parish, Isolo.

The most ridiculous allegation, as contained in the statement is that most of the police posts in Okota, Zone 'D' , Isolo Road and Zone 2 Onikan are aware of the crisis, which has led to death threats being made against members, polarised the church and reduced the attendance of worshippers from 2000 to 300.

According to the statement, for the past 6 months, peace has eluded the parishes, with the active connivance of leaders of the Ketu Parish .

Ojetoye alleged that there was a prophecy that Isolo Parish should not join any of the contending parties, but should rather strive to resolve the crisis in the church.

In order to heed the prophecy, the Council of Honorary Evangelists reportedly got an injunction at an Ikeja High Court against the feuding elders. They, however, expressed surprise that despite the pendency of the matter in court, the Board of Trustees and the Minority Elders, with the collusion of law enforcement agents and OPC members, invaded the church and chased out the worshippers.

"Sunday services have, for the past one month, been marked by the presence of armed policemen as well as members of the OPC clothed in the church 'Sutana', mixing freely with members in front of the altar... the entrances to Ire Akari Parish is shut in broad light and padlocked, with tough-looking hoodlums manning the gates..." reads the statement.

A letter dated 26 April, 2004, sent to Zone 'D' Police Command, Isolo Road, Mushin, urged the police to call the two feuding parties to order for peace to reign in the church.

Several letters emanating from the office of Council of Honorary Evangelists are raising sundry allegations against the police and elders from Ketu Parish on the ground that some of the desperate elders are using their connection in the police to harass and intimidate the Ire Akari Parish into submission.

Another letter titled: "Appeal for Understanding And Cooperation In Charting The Way Forward For The Parish" dated 12 November, 2003 narrated the ugly developments so far and efforts made by concerned individuals to remedy the situation.

In order to restore sanity into the system, with a view to creating a conducive environment for worship, a joint meeting of the Council and Superior Leaders/World Leaders was called on Sunday, 9 November, 2003 with about 44 elders in attendance.

At the meeting, the following resolutions were arrived at: That the present Parochial Committee be prevailed upon to continue in office until further notice in order to restore sanity, that the council of Honorary Evangelists and Superior Leaders/Woliders mediate between the Council of Elders and the Parochial Committee, not excluding the aggrieved parties in the church at large and that the Council of Honorary and Superior Leaders/Woliders should mediate between the Parochial Committee and the Most Senior Evangelist F. A. Oladepo.

The letter jointly signed by Hon. Snr. Evang. Dotun Ojetoye and H. B. Olubode agreed that these steps would restore peace back to the church.