Tackling The ‘Men Of God’ Phenomenon

The advent of COVID-19 has given new currency to the word ‘pandemic’, and since early 2020, the eyes of people across the world have been opened to the fact that we are living through a multiplicity of concurrent pandemics. Currently, everyone living in Nigeria is aware that there is a pandemic of incompetence, incapacity, nepotism, tribalism, and mediocrity at all levels. As a result, all national indicators are tilting towards a failed state. A case in point is the recent Kuje Prison break that happened at the very heart of the country’s seat of power. However, this article is about a very different kind of pandemic; the type that has chosen to ravage the flock of Christ and unsuspecting members of the public.
Recent events, especially in Nigeria, have shown that Christianity the world over is facing a pandemic of unimaginable proportions. This is the pandemic of the ‘ Men of God’, or prophets; and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is short of answers to deal with the growing menace of fake pastors and teachers, fake prophets, and charlatans preying on the innocent and the simple minded.
Two recent events spoke very loudly to this issue and the urgency needed to act decisively can not be taken for granted.  The first was the murder of a young lady by an Abuja- based Pastor and his son. According to the story, the young lady was killed and her body was chopped into several pieces and disposed of in bin bags. The other event was the story of 77 Church members, including adults and children, hypnotised by their Pastor, who promised them that the rapture would happen in September, 2022. The crimes committed by these men and women of God include, but are not limited to rape, human trafficking, drug trafficking, human sacrifice for money and power, money laundering, and counterfeiting. . Unfortunately, the evidence is overwhelming, and it is even happening in the most unlikely places.
These men of God are enmeshed in a myriad of sexual misconduct cases. Some have been exonerated for the lack of evidence, like the case of Pastor Biodun Fatoyibo who was accused of rape by the wife of popular Nigerian musician, Timi Dakolo, and also accused of sexual misconduct by some others from his church, including one Else Walter. Or, the case of South African – based Nigerian Pastor, Tim Omotosho, who was accused, and convicted of molesting about 30 young ladies in the Quazulu-Natal. Or, the case of the Pastor of Life and Power Bible Church, Ogijo, Ogun State, who a congregant accused of rape during night deliverance prayers. There are also cases of human trafficking and money laundering involving men who occupy pulpits, claiming to be preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Men of God, like Pastor Marvelous Odalo, who was arrested in Edo State for trafficking a young lady of 22 years to Russia for prostitution. Or, the case of Pastor Sunday Adeyemi and his wife who were arrested in Ughelli, Delta State for trafficking one Miss Oghenefejiro Obotakpore to Libya.
In July 2021, Pastor Sabastine was arrested in Kontagora, Niger State, in the company of three other men for the possession of counterfeit N1000 notes to the tune of N15.8 million. There is also the case of Pastor Kelechi Vitalis  Anozie, who was arrested in Enugu State, following a tip-off by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for advanced fee fraud of $182,000 carried out against two American citizens.
Earlier in the year, Christians across the country were thoroughly embarrassed by the well publicised arrest of Rev. Ughochukwu Emmanuel Ekwem, by the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with 54 sticks of cannabis wrapped around his body. Meanwhile, he  was on his way to Kenya for a three weeks crusade. They have deified themselves in the eyes of members of their congregation to such an extent that men wear their faces on bracelets and necklaces, and call their names rather than calling the name of the one who shed His blood on the cross.
It is very disheartening that the litany of cases has not compelled CAN to take decisive action. It is true that CAN has disavowed a few charlatans teaching erroneous doctrines, but it has refused to develop clear mechanisms to weed out the wolfs in the midst of the flock and deter potential rogue general overseers (GOs). During a speech in 2017, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, pointed to the fact that the Church is now embroiled in white-collar crimes through negligence and acquiescence; it has become an active player by providing cover for the concealment of criminally acquired assets and the proceeds of corruption. In the same vein, the General Overseer of Sufficient Grace and Truth Ministry, Bishop Seun Adeoye, remarked in February, that the acts attributed to fake pastors in Nigeria are worse than the mayhem caused by bandits. Evidently, the Bishop was speaking for millions of Nigerians who have been burnt by these men of God. It is clear that nothing would change this narrative until measured steps are taken to reel in the beast in these men and women of God. These people have such an ungodly appetite for money. Can you imagine where a Prophet would ask his congregation to pay N310, 000 for rapture?
CAN must act, it must work in consonance with the government to reduce the activities of these people to the barest minimum. In my opinion, it should push for a moratorium of at least 10 years for the opening of new Churches; and potential Church founders, or GOs and their pastors must possess a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree or a postgraduate diploma in Theology. This might sound simplistic, but it would cause these men to think again. In the United Kingdom, Churches are treated as a charity, and as such, their books are open for public scrutiny, it should be the same here. Pastors cannot be allowed to use Church funds for their personal needs at will. Even if they are the GOs, they must be on salaries, and pay their tax just like every other person; and those stupendous personal gifts they receive should also be scrutinised. Every Church must agree to a reporting mechanism, and routine full disclosure of Church accounts to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrup Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) for the purpose of accountability and transparency.
Nigerian pastors should live in such a manner that like Jesus, they can say “the devil has come, and he has nothing in me”(John 14:30); or, like Paul, they can say “I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold or clothing” (Act 20:30).

By: Raphael Pepple