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Protesters Storm COZA Over Rape Allegation …Want Pastor To Step Down …My Husband Not a Rapist -Mrs Fatoyinbo
Thousands of Nigerians, yesterday, stormed Abuja to protest the allegations of rape levelled against the Founder and Global Senior Pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Pastor Abiodun Fatoyinbo.
The protesters, who first converged on NNPC Filling Station at Guzape, marched to the Abuja headquarters of the church in the early hours of yesterday.
Some of the placards held by the protesters read, “We are watching you”, “Your Pastor is not your God”, “Say No To Rape”, “Say No to Sexual Predators”, “I Hate Rape, #ChurchMeToo”, “God Can Forgive You Behind Bars #ChurchToo”, “Thou shall not rape” and “No to sexual abuse in my church”, among others with the hashtag ‘#ChurchToo.’
The protesters, including one of the leaders of the Bring Back Our Girls movement, Aisha Yesufu, could be seen wearing white in solidarity with victims of rape.
This follows allegations of rape against Fatoyinbo by Busola Dakolo, photographer and wife of inspirational singer, Timi Dakolo.
However, just as they were marching towards the church, another group of men engaged in a counter-protest against members of the #ChurchToo Movement, who participated in a demonstration at Commonwealth of Zion Assembly over the rape allegation.
The members of #ChurchToo were blocked by a human barricade of COZA members who linked arms about 150 metres from the church auditorium in Guzape, Abuja.
About an hour into the protest by #ChurchToo, the pro-Fatoyinbo group emerged with handwritten placards that read, ‘We love Pastor Fatoyinbo’, and ‘Biodun is a great man,’ among others.
The members, who were said to be labourers working near the church, were allegedly paid N10,000 each by an unidentified church member.
Our correspondent observed that some of them accepted N500 each from a #ChurchToo protester to surrender their placards.
The Senior Pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly in Guzape, Abuja, Pastor Abiodun Fatoyinbo, also made a surprise appearance in church.
He was absent for over an hour, fuelling reports that he was in hiding due to the allegations of rape levelled against him.
His wife, Pastor Omodele Fatoyinbo, had taken charge of the service earlier.
Mrs Fatoyinbo, while leading the prayer session, said God would deliver them from the goliaths and pharaohs of the world.
Quoting 2nd Samuel chapter 22, Mrs Fatoyinbo said there would be testimonies in the church amid troubles.
She said enemies would not overcome the children of God.
The wife of the senior pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly in Guzape, said that her husband is not a rapist.
Mrs Fatoyinbo said, “My husband is not a rapist. Even if he was not a believer, he would not be a rapist.”
Before she could complete her speech, however, her husband quickly grabbed the microphone, and said, “the elders are handling the matter”.
Although church service, which usually ends at 12pm, was hurriedly concluded before 11am while no sermon was delivered.
A member of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), who identified himself as Femi Olaoye @femolevsky has asked Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, to step down and allow for an investigation into the rape allegation.
Though the flamboyant pastor has denied the allegation and threatened to sue his accusers, many Nigerians have taken to the social media to condemn the COZA pastor.
Some Nigerians also embarked on a demonstration, yesterday in Abuja and Lagos against the pastor.
Olaoye on his twitter handle urged the pastor to own up to his action and face the consequences, adding that the church will be fine without him.
“If these allegations are true, it is important Pastor Biodun owns up to them, face the consequences including Law enforcement and submit to the process. The church will be fine without him,” Olaoye submitted.
Olaoye said, @femolevsky: “I am a member of COZA, I joined almost 8 years ago now. I am not a worker or a member of any inner circle. But I wholeheartedly subscribed to the mission of the church and many of the programmes and messages.
“My attendance of the church was primarily because of my relationship with God, and secondarily because of the level of excellence that spoke out in the ambience that is constantly presented. I saw church done differently and in a manner that I subconsciously desired.
“One thing I know is always repeated is the importance of your personal relationship with God. You are tutored and admonished to build that personal relationship with God. Like me, there are many other people, who out of the innocence of their hearts and desire for fulfillment in the pursuit of their faith joined the church.
“Personally, I am far from perfect, I can in no way be the Judge over anyone, but I know what is required for stewardship of a church and a congregation. I know what is required of the steward and what the church should be. The church is not the pastor, the pastor is not the church.
“While at this moment, it is easy to attack the church, members and hierarchy, leave the church and rain curses from the outside and deny ever attending or having anything to do with the church, I choose otherwise. I believe the church, the victims, vulnerable members as well as dutiful workers need to be protected, rallied and encouraged to remain steadfast, but to also demand accountability.
“If these allegations are true, it is important Pastor Biodun owns up to them, face the consequences including Law enforcement and submit to the process. The church will be fine without him.
“I was one of the people who spoke up, asking @timidakolo to provide evidence and put substance to his posts and he and his wife have done so.
“Now, it is my turn to pursue justice, demand accountability and protect the sanctity of the church.
“There is a major programme coming up in a couple of days and the timing couldn’t be better.
“It is right of everyone to protest and demand justice, but I know people will jump on this, whether for personal, selfish, evil or altruistic reasons and they are all welcome, as long as we are demanding Justice and accountability. All I ask is that innocent members be spared the wrath and the benefit of the doubt, as we signed up to God’s church and not the Man of God.
“Yes, we respect him as the steward and shepherd, we applaud his good works so far and celebrate them, but out of that respect and honour, we ask him to step aside, address this situation and face the consequences and not let the church suffer instead.
“It is important to note that he won’t be the first to face the law and certainly won’t be the last. In fact, he should continue to preach the truth as he has, and work to ensure that truth is protected, by speaking and stepping down for the process to take its course.
“My sympathies to all alleged victims, my prayers are with and for them, my deepest love to Pastor’s kids as they endure this difficult time and my admonition to members!
“Let us unite, speak truth and demand accountability. May the grace of God be with us all, may God help us”, he added.
However, Pastor Abiodun Fatoyinbo, has cancelled the yearly programme, “Seven Days of Glory” of the church.
Fatoyinbo announced this while addressing congregants, yesterday.
The programme, which usually begins every July 1 and holds for seven days, has attracted several international pastors like Bishop T.D Jakes and Creflo Dollar in the past.
Fatoyinbo said his mentors and leaders had advised him to cancel the programme.
He said he didn’t want to put the guest preachers through the stress of coming to COZA amid such allegations of rape.
The pastor was hailed by hundreds of congregants who yelled, “we love you pastor”.
Fatoyinbo said his “elders” were handling the matter even as he said he was not happy with the huge deployment of security agents in the church.
But some female members of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly in Guzape, Abuja, yesterday, gave 15 minutes of testimonies at the church.
The women shared their “COZA experiences”, claiming their lives have changed for the better since they joined the church.
Although most of the women did not identify themselves, most of them claimed they experienced unprecedented financial success.
While one of the women claimed to have got her dream job, another one said her marriage was salvaged.
A female congregant, Toyin, said she joined the church in 2012, and was mentored by the Senior Pastor, Abiodun Fatoyinbo.
The extended testimony session by the women may not be unconnected with allegations of rape levelled against Fatoyinbo.
It was learnt that the testimony session may have been put together to rubbish the rape allegations.
Earlier, an extended testimony session was held in the church with seven women coming out, in turn, to attest to the character of the pastor and the presence of God in the church.
Although most of the women did not identify themselves, most of them claimed they experienced unprecedented financial success.
Mrs Fatoyinbo said the testimonies given by the women were authentic.
Just as the service was going on, workers at Commonwealth of Zion Assembly in Guzape, Abuja, seized over 100 jotters from worshippers.
It was observed that, at least, 100 jotters were confiscated and placed on a car at the entrance.
Operatives of the Department of State Services wearing hooded masks, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force and officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, yesterday, surrounded the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly in Guzape, Abuja.
It was observed that, at least, 50 security operatives with patrol vehicles were stationed on either side of the road on Nasir el-Rufai Crescent where the church is located.
Although security officials are usually deployed in the church every Sunday, the number of operatives, yesterday was higher than usual.
About five men wearing gloves frisked congregants at the entrance and questioned those found suspicious.
The deployment of security operatives may not be unconnected with threats by several rights groups to protest at the church following allegations of rape levelled against COZA senior pastor, Abiodun Fatoyinbo.
Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned any case of rape in strong terms, saying it doesn’t matter who is involved.
The President, CAN, Rev Samson Ayokunle, who gave the condemnation via a text message to journalists, stressed that justice must prevail in all rape cases.
Ayokunle described rape as ungodly, wicked and reprehensible.
He, however, noted that CAN has no details on the trending allegations against the founder of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Pastor Abiodun Fatoyinbo.
But he confirmed that the association had reached out to the Christian wing which Fatoyinbo belongs to ascertain the truth of the matter and take necessary actions.
“We have no details about the matter other than what we are reading and hearing from social media, and this is not reliable and credible evidence.
“The CAN leadership has reached out to the leadership of the block which the Pastor in question belongs with a view to getting to the root of the matter.
“This will help us to make the right decision on the issue,” he said.
It would be recalled that there was protest march to COZA church in Abuja, yesterday by #Church Too Movement.
It was also revealed that Busola Dakolo, a photographer and wife of musician, Timi Dakolo, had accused Fatoyinbo of rape.
Mrs Dakolo is the second high profile person after Ese Walter to accuse Fatoyinbo of rape.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for an official State visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
Upon arrival yesterday, Shettima was received at the airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Dr. Gedion Timothewos, and other members of the Ethiopian and Nigerian diplomatic corps.
Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed yesterday, titled: “VP Shettima arrives in Ethiopia for official state visit.”
During the visit, Vice President Shettima will participate in the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme, a flagship environmental initiative.
The programme designed to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period.
In line with strengthening bilateral ties in agriculture and industrial development, the Vice President will also embark on a strategic tour of key industrial zones and integrated agricultural facilities across selected regions of Ethiopia.
News
RSG Tasks Farmers On N4bn Agric Loan ….As RAAMP Takes Sensitization Campaign To Four LGs In Rivers
The Rivers State Government has called on the people of the state especially farmers to access the ?4billion agricultural loans made available by the State and domiciled in the Bank of Industry.
This is as the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), a World Bank project, took its sensitization campaign to Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni, Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor local government areas.
The campaign was aimed at enlightening community dwellers and other stakeholders in the various local government areas on the RAAMP project implementation and programme activities.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Maurice Ogolo, said this at Opobo town, Ngo, Port Harcourt City and Rumuodumanya, headquarters of the four local government areas respectively, during the sensitization campaign.
Ogolo said apart from the ?4billion, the government has also made available fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers in the various local government areas.
The Permanent Secretary who is the Chairman, State Steering Committee for the project, said RAAMP will construct roads that will connect farms to markets to enable farmers and fishermen sell their farms produce and fishes.
He also said rural roads would be constructed to farms and fishing settlements, and warned against any act that will lead to the cancellation of the projects in the four local government areas.
According to him, the World Bank and Federal Government which are the financiers of the programme will not condone such acts like kidnapping, marching ground and other acts inimical to the successful implementation of the projects in their respective areas.
At PHALGA, Ogolo asserted that the city will benefit in the areas of roads and bridge construction.
He noted that RAAMP was thriving in both the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Lagos and other states in the country, stressing that the project should also be given the seriousness it deserves in Rivers State.
Speaking at Opobo town, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, the project coordinator, RAAMP, Mr.Joshua Kpakol, said the programme would reduce poverty in the state.
According to him, both fishermen and farmers will maximally benefit from the programme.
At Ngo which is the headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area, Kpakol said roads will be constructed to all remote fishing settlements.
He said Rivers State is lucky to be among the states implementing the project, and stressed the need for the people to embrace it.
Meanwhile, Kpakol said at PHALGA that RAAMP is a project that will transform the lives of farmers, traders and other stakeholders in the area.
He urged the stakeholders to spread the information to their various communities.
However, some of the stakeholders at Opobo town complained about the destruction of their farms by bulls allegedly owed by traditional rulers in the area, as well as incessant stealing of their canoes at waterfronts.
At Ngo, Archbishop Elkanah Hanson, founder of El-Shaddai Church, commended the World Bank and the Federal Government for bringing the projects to Andoni.
He stressed the need for the construction of roads to fishing settlements in the area.
Also, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state and Okan Ama of Ekede, HRH King Gad Harry, noted that storage facilities have become necessary for a successful agricultural programme.
Harry also stressed the need for the programme to be made sustainable.
In their separate speeches, the administrators of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, pledged their readiness to support the programme.
At Port Harcourt City, the Administrator, Dr Arthur Kalagbor, represented by the Head of Local Government Administration, Port Harcourt City, Mr Clifford Paul, said the city would support the implementation of the programme in the area.
Also, the administrator of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter, represented by Mr Michael Elenwo, pledged to support the programme in his local government area.
Among dignitaries at the Obio/Akpor stakeholders engagement is the chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council and paramount ruler of Apara Kingdom, HRM Eze Chike Wodo, amongst others.
John Bibor
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the commencement of personnel audit and skill gap analysis across all cadres of federal civil servants.
The president gave this directive in Abuja, yesterday, while speaking at the International Civil Service Conference, reaffirming his resolve to achieve efficiency and professional service delivery in the civil service.
“I have authorized the comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across the federal civil service to deepen capacity. I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritize timely completion of this critical exercise, to begin implementing targeted reforms, to realize the full benefit of a more agile, competent and responsive civil service,” the president announced.
Tinubu further directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to prioritise data integrity and sovereignty in national interest.
He called for the capture, protection and strategic publication of public sector data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.
“We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified data assets within Nigeria and share them internationally recognized as fruitful. This will allow global benchmarking organisation to track our progress in real time and help us strengthen our position on the world stage. This will preserve privacy and uphold data sovereignty,” Tinubu added.
President Tinubu hailed the federal civil service as the “engine” driving his Renewed Hope Agenda, and the vehicle for delivering sustainable national development.
He submitted that the roles of civil servants remain indispensable in modern governance, declaring that in the face of a fast-evolving digital and economic landscape, the civil service must remain agile, future-ready, and results-driven.
“This maiden conference is a bold step toward redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation. An innovative Civil Service ensures we meet today’s needs and overcome tomorrow’s challenges.
“It captures our collective ambition to reimagine and reposition the civil service. In today’s rapid, evolving world of technology, innovation remains critical in ensuring that the civil service is dynamic, digital” the President said.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack in her welcome address told the President that his presence and strong words of commendation at the conference has renewed the morale and mandate of public servants across the country.
Walson-Jack described Tinubu as the backbone of driving transformation in the Nigerian civil service, and noted that the takeaways from past study tours undertaken to understudy the civil service in Singapore, the UK and US under her leadership, is already yielding multiplier effects.
Walson-Jack assured Tinubu that her office, in collaboration with reform-minded stakeholders, will not relent in accelerating the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, FCSSIP 25.
She affirmed that digitalisation, performance management, and continuous learning remain key pillars in strengthening accountability, transparency, and service delivery across MDAs.
Walson-Jack reaffirmed that the civil service is determined to exceed expectations by embedding a culture of innovation, ethical leadership, and citizen-centred governance in the heart of public administration.