BY MODUPEOLUWA ADEKANYE, Guardian Nigeria
Bishop David Oyedepo on Sunday questioned the rationale behind the inclusion of religious centres and charity organisations into the Company and Allied Matters Acts (CAMA).
The law which was recently signed by the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari states that “the commission may by order, suspend the trustees of an association or a religious body and appoint an interim manager or managers to coordinate its affairs where it reasonably believes that there has been any misconduct or mismanagement, or where the affairs of the association are being run fraudulently or where it is necessary or desirable for the purpose of public interest.”
CAMA Bill: Decision made from Jealousy
\While addressing the members of his congregation, he said the decision is borne out of jealousy of the church’s growth. In his words:
The church works on the pattern delivered by God not the pattern of man. The government has no power to appoint people over churches. This is a secular nation. The church is the greatest asset of God in this country. Please be warned. Judgment is coming. The Lord says I have been still but now I will arise. Anybody that is in this deal is taking poison. This will never work. I am waiting for a day when anybody will appoint a trustee over this church… You can’t gag anybody. We own this country together. It is only in Africa that people who are over 80 years still run around to become president. I know that it is the prosperity of the church that is making them jealous. But I am going to live to see an army of many winners soar greater. In this church shall emerge one of the largest concentrations of giants on earth.
People on social media however have different reactions to Oyedepo’s view. While some agree with him, some believe he is wrong. Below are the reactions:
