₦airaland Forum

Adeboye, Kumuyi, Olukoya are denominational heads, not fathers of Nigerian church, cleric says

Founder of The Word Assembly Churches, Rev. Isaac Omolehin has declared that Christianity in Nigeria lacks a unifying paternal figure, arguing that prominent church leaders are denominational heads rather than fathers of the entire body of Christ.

Omolehin made the declaration in a sermon delivered and uploaded on the official YouTube channel of the church on Wednesday, a clip of which has since gone viral on social media on Saturday.

“I would hear fathers and I ask myself, which father? Nigerian Christianity has no father. Nigerian Christianity has no father. One young man was speaking so intensely recently about our fathers and mentioning that our fathers should speak out. Our fathers should speak out. What is happening? Yeah, I think our fathers should speak out. That Baba Adeboye should speak out.

“He was mentioning fathers. And I was asking myself, are these fathers of Christianity in Nigeria? Without sounding disrespectful? These are denominational leaders. Christianity in Nigeria has no father.

“A father would be somebody who looks after us all. Not just promoting the denominational agenda and the competition of how I’m building one mile auditorium. Then another one is trying to build two miles.

“One has one aircraft, another one wants to have three. The rivalry, the competition has no spiritual content,” he said.

Omolehin acknowledged the stature of General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Enoch Adeboye, but insisted that his influence did not extend beyond his denomination.

“Don’t get me wrong. Baba Adeboye is a very successful, respected man of God. But he’s in Redeemed. Kumuyi is in Deeper Life. Olukoya is in MFM. Does Olukoya know what is happening to a certain brother that is in Seventh-day Adventist? Does Kumuyi know what is happening to a person that is in Jehovah’s Witness? But these are also christains” he said.

The cleric argued that any figure deserving the title of father of Nigerian Christianity must transcend denominational loyalty.

“A person that will be our father cannot be a denominational person. He has to derobe himself of denominational doggedness and denominational extremism. Our father must be the father of all — the father of those who are in Roman Catholic, Methodist, Anglican, Apostolic,” he said.

Omolehin said the absence of such a figure explained why no church leader had spoken authoritatively on issues affecting Christians broadly.

“Right now, Christianity in Nigeria has no father. And that’s why nobody is coming up to say anything. We have denominational fathers. They are not fathers of all.

“They are not father of all. Who will be our father must be the father of those who are in Roman Catholic. Be the father of those who are in Methodist.

“Be the father of those who are in Anglican. Be the father of those who are in Apostolic. Be the father of everybody because we are going to the same heaven,” he said.

He closed his argument with a theological appeal, saying that denominational distinctions would be irrelevant in eternity.

Source: https://punchng.com/adeboye-kumuyi-olukoya-are-denominational-heads-not-fathers-of-nigerian-church-cleric-says

“Christianity in Nigeria has no fathers. One young man was speaking intensely, saying Enoch Adeboye and David Oyedepo should speak out, and I asked myself, are these the fathers of Christianity in Nigeria? These are denominational leaders. Christianity in Nigeria has no father. A… pic.twitter.com/69194nVJ37

— 𝐀𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐲𝐆𝐑𝐍 (@AsakyGRN) April 18, 2026

Denominational fathers are still fathers. There is a unifying body known as Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). They have made statements just like our legislators are making statements regarding the security situation in the country. But their statements can be bought just like those of the politicians can be bought too.

Is it statements that solves security challenges? But if a respected father, be it denominational father or any religious father, makes statements, the state forces will act on those statements to show him they are on top of the matter.

But when respect for these fathers have gone to the dogs, the best they can do is give examples of countries that are getting it right so as not to step on toes of vindictive government and self centred citizens

adenigga:
“Don’t get me wrong. Baba Adeboye is a very successful, respected man of God. But he’s in Redeemed. Kumuyi is in Deeper Life. Olukoya is in MFM. Does Olukoya know what is happening to a certain brother that is in Seventh-day Adventist? Does Kumuyi know what is happening to a person that is in Jehovah’s Witness? But these are also christains”

Are they all worshipers of the same God?🤔

I have been saying it, all these men are scammers who exploits ignorance to emass wealth for themselves, while the vast majority of church members go home poor.

They are not working

God of Adeboye!
God of Babalola!
God of Orimolade!
God of Chosen!
Hail Mary!

Everyone with their own God!

The Catholic Church stands Out

adenigga:
Source: https://punchng.com/adeboye-kumuyi-olukoya-are-denominational-heads-not-fathers-of-nigerian-church-cleric-says

“Christianity in Nigeria has no fathers. One young man was speaking intensely, saying Enoch Adeboye and David Oyedepo should speak out, and I asked myself, are these the fathers of Christianity in Nigeria? These are denominational leaders. Christianity in Nigeria has no father. A… pic.twitter.com/69194nVJ37

— 𝐀𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐲𝐆𝐑𝐍 (@AsakyGRN) April 18, 2026

I thought Ignatius, Augustine, Jerome and the others are recognised as the Fathers of the Church. So there are new fathers in Nigeria?

Founder of The Word Assembly Churches, Rev. Isaac Omolehin has declared that Christianity in Nigeria lacks a unifying paternal

Let's say our men of Gods are all fake?... Happy Sunday Nairalanders.

Antoeni:
The Catholic Church stands Out

How?
Everyone is simply looking out for his or herself.

In Anambra, Anglican and Catholics drag till today.

Same Anambra, remember the Adoration Ministry debacle?

Daddy Omolehin,

You are also a father of faith. Take responsibility too sir.

You are supposed to use seasoned wisdom to gather and grow the fledgling flock at this age. Do it with gunuine humility and prayers and God may decide to help us and not by flesh.

I was under your ministeration for many years. I was under Baba Adeboye's ministration too. No man is perfect, no man at all.

I don't want to say more than that. Because the new stones are made to see the works of patriachs before them, esp those they have come across, even from the spirit.

May God have mercy everyone.

The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off!

What is the number of Christians in Nigeria?

Catholic and Anglican communions, while many others are gathered within Pentecostal bodies. This alone should caution us against seeking a single father defined by jurisdiction over all.

Baba Omolehin measures fatherhood by the breadth of authority.

But his vision does not account for the limits within which all spiritual authority must operate.

No man becomes a father to those who do not receive him.

To ask for a father over all is to overlook this necessary condition of consent and spiritual kinship.

Fatherhood is not diminished by its limits; it is defined by them.

Are we to pretend that the field of what constitutes the church in Nigeria is composed only of the faithful?

There are also those whose lives and teachings Christ tells us to contest.

It would therefore be neither possible nor prudent to speak of one father over all, as though all stood in the same relation of trust and truth.


Then Baba Omolehin also charges them with rivalry.

The building of auditoriums or the acquisition of private jets.

Baba Omolehin read these things as ambition.

But Baba Omolehin, they also could be understood as preparation: a readiness to gather, to move, to extend the reach of ministry?

Ultimately, it is the observer who supplies its meaning, and in this, it is you, Baba, who has inferred rivalry.

The claim that others will bow, that also need not be received in the narrow sense of competition.

Why do you not see an expectation of eventual recognition, however imperfectly expressed?

To fix upon the harshest reading is to close off other, more charitable possibilities.


I love Apostle Paul's letter to the churches. They were critical letters.

There is value in voices that call the Church to reflection, even when they unsettle.

In this, Baba Omolehin performs something akin to the work of the apostles, who wrote not always to comfort, but to correct.

But Paul did not demand of the Church in Corinth or of Rome, what their present structure cannot sustain, or reduced their complex realities to a single motive.

Such a task requires a careful hand. For correction, if it is to build rather than diminish, it must be guided by charity, proportion, and truth.

May the love of Christ remain with His Church, and guide all who speak concerning it.

Points are clearly stated. At least one of these “fathers” has fully shown his hypocritical character.

MaxinDHouse are JWs part of CAN?

While in islam ..

Iranian Muslims hate Saudi Arabia Muslims.

Which Allah do they worship?

AntiChristian:
God of Adeboye!
God of Babalola!
God of Orimolade!
God of Chosen!
Hail Mary!

Everyone with their own God!

Complex issues require I think and reflect before dropping my comment.

All man for himself. That's it.

They are not fathers to anyone but simply denominational pastors. They have done lots of damages to Nigerians and Africans that wiill take more than 100years yo recover.

Even within a single extended family, there are different fathers. A man is a father to his own children, even if he is not the father to others in the same family. That doesn’t diminish his role or authority within his own household. He is a father in his community.

In the same way, in Christianity, there can be fathers within different spheres and sections and they have influence over those spheres which forms a significant section of Christianity in Nigeria.

The are fathers of Christianity.

Leave what they are and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord.

This table this man is shaking, God supports him but the masses or worshipers in those denominations will come after him.... Lol, but he said the truth sha. Our pastors now boast softly of how many aircrafts they possess.

What about Gbile Akanne? For those that knows him, I think he meets all the requisite of a 'father'

AntiChristian:
God of Adeboye!
God of Babalola!
God of Orimolade!
God of Chosen!
Hail Mary!

Everyone with their own God!

The men you mentioned are Denominational gods 😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆

They have separate doctrines they feed and enforce in there Denominations.

That's why Kumuyi Deeper Life says Christmas is Satanic, Olukoya of MFM says it is Demonic but Adeboye Reedeem is in to Christmas Carol every year.....

His point is we shouldnt call GO daddy.
He also said before we can call anybody body daddy of Christianity in nigeria "He has to derobe himself of denominational doggedness and denominational extremism"...

Ok noted.

He has to derobe himself of denominational doggedness and denominational extremism"...
This person is jesus...it not a role a human fits in...if a human fits in this place he would start to exhalt himself as a god.

Christianity is all about living a Christ-like life not all this one person that is a father of all rubbish...what do u want to do with father of all Christians to do...it can't take you to heaven...

Baba preach Christianity and not all these vane things...abi u dey eye these pastors rolls Royce and PJS

Sometimes, external forces won't have a successful attack if the internal bond is not broken. Baba Omolehin's too much talks spoil his reputation as an elderly person. All the people he mentioned, are they not submissive to the President of CAN? What is the role of the President of CAN if not to represent us? If he has issues with the President of CAN or the VAN herself, as an elder, he should find a means of amendment. Thank God he's also a father in his own right - denomination. Enough of his criticism and talking down on other Christians.

Onewazobia:
What about Gbile Akanne? For those that knows him, I think he meets all the requisite of a 'fathe[/b]r'

But Christ says [b]>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Matthew 23:9, "And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven," is a teaching where Jesus warns against hypocritical, prideful, or absolute spiritual authority. It emphasizes that God is the ultimate source of all fatherhood and authority.

I have always said this but people wouldn't believe me

Christianity in Nigeria can't have ONE paternal figure - the whole ideology that birthed the Pentecostal Church and others, was to divorce themselves from the hierarchical system of the Catholic Church - what you're asking for is a Nigerian Christian Pope.

Even as denominational fathers, due to CLEARLY DIFFERENT DOCTRINES, these people have influence to put government on their toes, but they are SCARED, MERE MORTALS LIKE THE REST OF US.

Onewazobia:
What about Gbile Akanne? For those that knows him, I think he meets all the requisite of a 'father'

You read the post comprehensively at all?