The gospel according to “daddy” poses a moral problem in the Nigerian clime. Unlike Jesus Christ’s gospel of minimalism, compassion and sacrifice, the gospel according to the Nigerian pastor or ‘daddy’ advocates an obscene, pocket-friendly version of faith. It enhances the capacity to say the right things without doing them.
The daddies’ brand of faith propagates life without integrity, devotion without humanity and the darkest possible version of prosperity. Thus the impulse for acquisition, pursuit of gain and money which has nothing to do with spiritualism. Rather it has everything to do with capitalism. One may say that it has been common to all sorts and conditions of men at all times and in all cultures of the earth.
Hence the fascination it presents to several Nigerian pastors. It is an open secret that Nigerian pastors are done waiting for their rewards in heaven. As you read, they engage in a mad, desperate hustle for earthly rewards. Little wonder they drive the best cars and private jets even as too many of their congregation wallow in abject poverty.
Interestingly, however, Pastor Tunde Bakare, the founder and General Overseer (G.O) of the Latter Rain Assembly understands that if he fails to bellow the truth when he knows the truth, he undoubtedly makes himself the accomplice of liars and forgers. This perhaps explains his recent outburst and criticism of fellow Pentecostal pastor, Bishop David Oyedepo.
Mr Bakare said this on Saturday during a TVC programme with Sam Omatseye tagged ‘The Big Talk’.
A former vice presidential candidate, Mr Bakare spoke about his relationship with fellow Pentecostal pastors in the country.
“Oyedepo and I are contemporaries. We were born in the same year,” he said.
“Oyedepo was born in August, 1954, and I was born in September. We are contemporaries, God has really blessed him and used him.
“We have differences in doctrines, what we believe, but that does not make us enemies,” he said.
Bakare said he and Oyedepo were on a plane one time and another brother was coming over to greet him, but on seeing them together, he froze.
“There is (a) difference between issues and persons. We can defend the gospel but those who do not and destroy it will die before their time. I have nothing personal against any man of God but I will always defend the truth that I know and I will always make it plain.”
When asked whether the incident was before Mr Oyedepo acquired his private jet, Mr Bakare said he doesn’t know why the clergyman makes so much noise about his private jet.
“By the way, when he makes noise about his private jet of a thing, do you know that I once acquired a 1707 with the logo of our church on it? Are you aware of that? But we use it for business. I don’t buy a plane to be spending money on it, that I can jump quickly on another and pay little money to where I’m going.
“We can afford it; we are not envious of them at all,” he added.
