Encomium
THERE’S an allegation of a subtle plot to unseat Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye as the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, by a group of disgruntled United Kingdom-based pastors of the ministry. They were said to have asked him to step down as the General Overseer.
Information available to ENCOMIUM Weekly revealed that few months back, one of the top UK-based pastors of that branch whose identity could not be ascertained met with about other 20 pastors where they decided that Pastor Adeboye should relinquish his exalted position.
Insiders alleged that their grouse was that he should let a younger minister take over the mantle of leadership of the church and take it to the next level. Consequently, they were said to have visited Daddy G.O at an appointed day at his international office in Redemption Camp along Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.
According to our source, the delegation informed him that they convened a meeting and resolved that he should retire as General Overseer this year and allow a younger pastor to take charge.”
For few minutes, Daddy G.O was dumb-founded and did not utter a word until the delegation walked out of his office. I learnt the plan has been on since 2010 when they encouraged the governing council of the church to place the retirement age of pastors of the church at 70. In their plan to enforce this decision, he was made to conduct a retirement service for some pastors of the church that were in the range and above at the Redemption Camp on Monday, August 9, 2010. Those retired included four special assistant General Overseers, who also doubled as regional pastors. They were replaced with more vibrant young men. Those retired were Pastors Ojo and Aderibigbe who had attained the retirement age of 70. They were replaced by Pastors E. A. Odeyemi Daramola, Dr. Lawal and Obayemi who were regional pastors in Jos, Abuja, Ilorin and Sagamu respectively.
Another source, who squealed to us revealed that the issue was a bomb blast for pastors who were not happy with the isuse. “It was a shocking story when my pastor confided in me with the details. The pastors were greedy thinking that the post of a General Overseer can be politicized and till now Daddy G. O has not responded to them.”
On Sunday, May 13, 2012, we contacted a spokesperson for the ministry, Pastor Damola who confirmed the story. “Yes, it is true that some pastors came up with such petition but it’s not very recent. The story is true but it has been resolved. The office of a General Overseer is not a political post.”
- This story was first published in ENCOMIUM Weekly on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
