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Why Top RCCG Leaders Are Bent On Pushing Iluyomades Out of City of David Parish
Unknown to many, the moves to hound the leadership of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), City of David under Pastor Idowu Iluyomade didn’t just start after the 60th birthday celebration of his wife, Dr Siju Iluyomade.
There has been underground murmuring within the top hierarchy of the church allegedly from the headquarters, trying to unravel how Pastor ID as he’s fondly called was able to build assets for the church and gained grounds within the ranks of RCCG; hence, the conspiracy to cut his wings.
According to reliable sources within the RCCG, recent allegations of holding a birthday bash during the mourning of late Herbert Wigwe, wife and son, as well as probing the financial state of City of David are mere conspiracy theories to hoodwink the gullible. The situation, we learnt, can be attributed to giving dog a bad name in orther to hang it.
The plan was meant to tarnish the reputation of both Pastor ID and Dr Siju in the public and mount pressures on the General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, to push the Iluyomades out of the church. One of the sources who worships at the Ebute-Metta headquarters, likened the politics within the leadership of RCCG to that of Nigeria.
“There is no difference between how our politicians do their game and how they do it in RCCG. You tend to see much desperation toward the pastor of a particular parish. We have given our opinions that this is what can be sorted in-house quietly instead of heating up the fragile unity we have,” the source said.
Our findings revealed that, some of the allegations levied against Pastor ID on the debt owed Access Bank by City of David, are mere interest on the N16.6billion loaned out of which the church has paid back 7.6billion as reported by Access Bank. The source revealed that N10.5 billion is the real loan and N6.1billion, and that the interest accrued over the years.
The bank put the sum of N373,578,342.77 as the interest due on July 21, 2024 in addition to a total outstanding principal of N9 billion.
Indeed, according to the source, the N373.5 million is not due for payment until July 21 but the church under Pastor Iluyomade has already deposited N200 million in the account. What is remaining is N173 million to complete the interest sum.
Pastor ID has been given credence by many of the lieutenants of Pastor Adeboye for coming clean in the face of so many battles and still keeping calm.
The leadership of the Apapa Family and City of David branch of RCCG under Pastor ID and Dr Siju has been given kudos for giving a face to RCCG in Lagos and beyond. The parish is categorized as the beautiful bride of RCCG, while Pastor ID led the congregation to make the branch the envy of all in all, and the wife who is also a pastor, in the last 15 years, has been championing the women’s cause, through Arise Women Foundation, a humanitarian body that has written its name in gold.
Dr Siju who is a lawyer of over 30 years experience, has used her Arise Women platform as a source of intervention for the less privileged across the country in the last 15 years, building schools, hospitals, boreholes, provisions of fertilisers for farmers, skills acquisition, empowerment initiatives, and many more.
There’s also the yearly Women Arise Conference, where speakers from across the world and within Nigeria come together to chart new ways for women and empowers thousands of people irrespective of tribes and ethnicity, as well as the Pink Bucket food basket which has indeed become a household name, to the credit of RCCG as a whole.
Meanwhile, regardless of the alleged desperation and ulterior motives of the promoters of the current situation, Pastor ID seems to have maintained his silence and remains loyal to Pastor Adeboye and genuine leaders of the church while on transfer to the Ebute-Metta headquarters.
Prince Kayode Adewale, a contestant for the vacant Owa-Obokun of Ijesa land throne, has urged the Osun state government and traditional kingmakers to rely on oracles and deities in selecting the next monarch of the ancient town.
Prince Adewale of the Owa Bilaro Oluodo Royal Family, made the call during a press conference in Ilesa, Osun State, on Thursday.
He noted that the Ifa oracle, along with the Obokun and Ogun deities, should be the determining factors in the selection process.
The stool became vacant following the passing of Oba Gabriel Aromolaran, who joined his ancestors on September 11, 2024, after a 42-year reign.
As the contest intensifies, an Osun State High Court, presided over by Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe, has restrained Governor Ademola Adeleke and others from appointing a new Owa-Obokun from the Haastrup family or any other candidate.
Amid the ongoing legal battles, Prince Adewale reaffirmed his interest in the throne, advocating for adherence to traditional processes to ensure fairness and legitimacy.
He said: “The Owa Obokun stool is not for sale. In Ijesaland when it’s comes to selection of a new King the Ifa, Obokun and Ogun deities will be consulted and the person that has the highest vote from them will emerge as the king.”
Declaring his intention, Adewale said he is committed to standardizing mining practices and implementing robust land reclamation policies.
“Ijeshaland is blessed with abundant natural resources, particularly in gold mining. However, our gold resources must be harnessed responsibly and sustainably. Under my leadership, I will work towards the standardization of gold mining practices, ensuring that this wealth benefits the people of Ijeshaland while preserving our environment for future generations.”
The House of Representatives on Thursday approved the extension of the implementation of the capital component of the 2024 budget from 31 December 2024 to 30 June 2025.
Leader of the House, Hon Julius Ihonvbere, laid the report of the report of the bill seeking the extension as the House dissolved into the Committee of Supply to consider it.
It is titled, “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Appropriation Act, 2024 to extend the implementation of the Capital Component of the Appropriation Act, 2024 from 31 December, 2024 to 30 June, 2025 and for Related Matters (HB.2023)”
Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who announced the adjournment of plenary to January 14, 2025, urged members to work hard in their various to ensure that the prompt passage of the 2025 budget upon resumption.
The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) on Thursday condemned in strong terms the suspension of 18 local government chairmen and councillors in Edo state by the House of Assembly.
Governor Monday Okpebholo had accused the suspended chairmen of disobeying his instructions by allegedly refusing to submit their financial records to the state government.
However, the ALGON’s National Executive Council (NEC) and its Board of Trustees (BoT) on Thursday jointly condemned the decision saying the governor and lawmakers did not give the council chairmen fair hearing to defend themselves.
The association at an emergency meeting in Katsina state, appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene, emphasising the need to respect the autonomy and independence of local governments as guaranteed by the nation’s constitution and recent ruling by the Supreme Court.
“ALGON views this suspension as a setback for democracy and abuse of power, particularly since the chairmen were not given a chance to defend themselves.
“This suspension is invalid. It contradicts the Supreme Court’s judgment granting local governments autonomy,” the ALGON National Publicity Secretary, Hamisu Anani, in a statement said.
Anani stated that if the Edo State House of Assembly’s decision was right, it would not have generated criticisms across the length and breadth of the country.
“This suspension is unconstitutional; it is null and void.
“ALGON is hereby urging the Edo State House of Assembly to reverse the decision and respect the rule of law to strengthen democratic governance.
“ALGON also appeals to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and halt this abuse of power,” the statement said.
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