THE interview granted by the General
Overseer of the Redeemed Christian
Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye,
to Qatar-based private broadcasting
channel, Al Jazeera, stirred a heated
debate on social networks on Sunday.
In the interview conducted by Al
Jazeera's Mohammed Adow, Adeboye
justified his ownership of a private jet,
saying it is necessary for efficiency in
his assignment.
Adeboye is one of the increasing
numbers of Pentecostal pastors in
Nigeria that have acquired private jets.
Many Nigerians have criticised these
pastors arguing that they are being
insensitive to the poverty among their
members.
But Adeboye while fielding questions
from Adow, said acquiring a private jet
was a necessity for him.
"There are things you need, which you
must have if you are to be efficient. If
you have to oversee churches in 160
nations, you can't do that on a bicycle,"
Adeboye said.
However, Adeboye's justification for his
ownership of a private jet has divided
Nigerians on various social networks as
some shared his opinion while many
opposed him.
A member of a popular online forum,
nairaland.com, Onyianyi, argues that it
was wrong for Adeboye to own a private
jet when the majority of his members
live below the poverty line and wallow
in abject poverty.
He says, "I'm not a member of any of
these Pentecostal churches but Adeboye
is one pastor I respect so much. This
time around he got it wrong, there's no
reason for a man of God with millions of
impoverished followers to be cruising in
a private jet.
"After all, are they more committed in
this ministry than Jesus Christ? Our
Lord Jesus never used a private boat or
a private camel during his time. Yet he
could easily command one to his usage.
Christ, though very rich, chose to live a
poor life so that his message can easily
get across to the poor."
Apparently replying Adeboye on his
explanation that he cannot oversee his
churches in 160 countries of the world
using a bicycle, a member of the forum,
Olumide, says Adeboye could simply
connect his subordinate pastors
manning the churches overseas via
video-conference.
"As if he (Adeboye) doesn't have the
money to video-chat with the pastors of
the branches of the church! At least,
that would save him money," Olumide
notes.
Commenting on punchng.com, a reader,
Zoemed, says Pastor Adeboye's defence
was not good enough.
Zoemed explains, "I had expected a
better defence rather than this 'I need a
plane to do a better job of supervising
churches under my ministry'! What are
the roles of Subordinate pastors? The
Catholic Archdiocese of New York alone
could buy many jets for the Pope but
they spend most of their money on
helping the poor, providing hospital
care and welfare for the downtrodden.
"Our Pentecostal churches cannot even
build hospitals and affordable schools to
supplement the little we have."
Rising in defence of Adeboye, a visitor
to punchng.com, Adeola, says the
pastor's acquisition of a jet was
necessary, given the erratic services
provided by airlines in the Nigerian
aviation industry. She notes that flight
delays and cancellations were a setback
to Christian ministry, adding that the
work of a pastor was more tasking than
that of a nation's President.
She says, "For a man to visit 160
countries in a year is never a joke. Why
shouldn't he have a jet if his church can
provide it? You and I know how 'sound'
our aviation industry is. For a minister
of God who is billed to preach in a
particular place with other programmes
following to have a flight delay or
outright cancellation without prior
notification, is a loss that cannot be
quantified.
"Holding of crusade is different from
political gathering, which many of you
understand better. The mandate given
to these ministers is urgent, the time is
short and it covers the entire world.
This is more than that of the President.
Leave them alone as they will give
account of their stewardship to God."
Reacting sharply to the critics of
Adeboye, Genes Donald, also states on
nairaland.com, that Pastors must not
live in penury all in the name of
propagating God's word.
"I go with you sir (Adeboye). These
people think we should ride bicycle, just
to propagate God's word? Who says
pastors must be paupers? Some people
just reason from the anus! Ride on
Pastor," Donald says.
On punchng.com, Macsam states,
"Having a jet is not bad for the RCCG,
and it doesn't mean that they are not
doing charity work. For instance. I have
benefited from RCCG scholarship.
"I didn't know any pastor I just obtained
the form and went for the interview. I
went to my village for something; I just
got a call that I was selected. They pay
me N250,000 every session and they do
it for so many students every year. So
stop condemning RCCG for acquiring a
jet, it is for efficiency."

mobile.punchng.com/output.php?link=http://www.punchng.com/news/private-jet-adeboyes-defence-stirs-debate-on-social-networks/

When I saw the title, I opened it eager to read and see the 'supposed' furore on social networks...was quite disappointing that it was just Nairaland and Punch that 'social networks' referred to.

As much as I like the fact that Nairaland is getting to be a social network force to be reckoned with, I still think there are other notable social networks too...no, I won't name them. Any journalist worth their salt should research well before going on to write an article...
As a 'mediocre' editor, I would have asked that this kind of article be re-written but what do I know, Punch Newspapers must have better editors where 'social networks' is Nairaland and then as an afterthought Punch.

In words of Karl Marx, Religion is the opium ofthe masses..

In words of Karl Marx, Religion is the opium of the masses.