Not long after he announced his retirement as what people believe to be General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye was expressly back on the pulpit on Sunday, ministering in the capacity of General Overseer of RCCG Worldwide.
Adeboye, 74, had on Saturday morning announced his resignation as RCCG General Overseer at the Annual Ministers Thanksgiving of the church held at the Redemption Camp located along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. He went ahead to announce Pastor Joseph Obayemi as the new man in charge.
He said he was stepping down to conform with the new legal requirements set up by the Financial Regulations Council, guiding all registered churches, mosques, and CSOs. The regulation stipulates that heads of non-profit organisations like churches now have a maximum period of twenty years to lead their organisations. They are not permitted to hand over to their families.
However, as news of the development spread. Leke Adeboye, the clergyman’s last son and Personal Assistant, issued a statement claiming that his father remained the General Overseer, Worldwide, of the church, while Pastor Joseph Obayemi will head the Church in Nigeria.
But this was contradicted by RCCG’s new General Secretary in Nigeria, Pastor Funsho Odeshola, who later in the day issued a Memo in which he confirmed that Pastor Adeboye was no longer the General Overseer. The Memo RCCG/PERS/IFO/AD/MEMO/07/01/2017 entitled “New Structure in RCCG Nigeria”, confirmed that the church in Nigeria will now be led by Pastor Obayemi.
The Memo was addressed to All Assistant General Overseers, SATGOS (Home and Abroad), Pastors 1/c of Regions, Pastors 1/c of Provinces/Country Coordinators. It never referred to Pastor E.A. Adeboye as the General Overseer of RCCG Worldwide as claimed by Leke Adeboye but said: “Kindly be informed that this new structure is particular to Nigeria alone, as Pastor E.A. Adeboye, Daddy GO, remains the Spiritual Leader and Global Missioner of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.”
That notwithstanding, Pastor Adeboye was recognised as General Overseer of RCCG Worldwide on Sunday while delivering a sermon at a special Thanksgiving Service to usher in the New Year held at the Lagos House in Ikeja. The service was graced by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and several other dignitaries.
Adeboye’s new position has sparked heated debate as it is not recognised by RCCG’s Constitution. Ebun-olu Adegboruwa, eminent lawyer, activist and RCCG Pastor has likened what is happening to developments in The Gambia, where President Yahya Jammeh called to congratulate the winner of that country’s presidential ballot and conceded defeat, only to later renege.
Adegboruwa wrote: “On Saturday, January 7, 2017, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, told all ministers gathered at the Annual Ministers Conference, that the Church now has a new General Overseer, but before the end of the day, information emerged that Pastor Adeboye had only stepped down as General Overseer for Nigeria and would still continue to function as General Overseer of RCCG Worldwide.
“When it was pointed out that the Constitution of RCCG does not recognise that title, then we were informed that Pastor Adeboye will now be known as Global Missioner and Spiritual Leader of the Church. When the illegality of that title was revealed, then we have now been told that Pastor Adeboye will now retain his title as General Overseer, while Pastor Obayemi is National Overseer.
“I have taken the pains to check the Constitution of the church and I can see signs of some confusion brewing, if not carefully handled.
“In all my time that I’ve known Pastor Adeboye, integrity has been his watchword and the trends emerging from the inconsistent pronouncements from the church since yesterday, do not support the personality of our dear Daddy GO, and he himself has to act quickly to douse the tension being generated.
“From a church of just about 40 parishes in 1981 when Pastor Adeboye took over as General Overseer, the RCCG is now present in about 192 countries all over the world.
RCCG has become one of the most influential churches worldwide and we cannot afford to give the impression that Daddy GO is unwilling to retire or hand over to somebody else. That is certainly not the Pastor Adeboye that we all know.
In his succession plan, Pastor Adeboye has done what no pastor has done before and he should follow it through and mentor the people that God has led him to chose as his successors.
“We his followers are pained with the development but as things are now, there is little we can do about it.”