₦airaland Forum

The Lagos State government got this one horribly wrong, We will pay a toll once they provide us with the light rail water and other alternative routes.

My dear brother @becomerich

The issue is not the legalilty of the waivers or even the principle of it. The issue is the bigger picture. The schools RCCG owns is just an extention of it's empire and is of equaly financial import to the saundery churches the RCCG operates.

The political ideology of the movement is what I call to question, wining and dinning with the oppressors of the people is just a manifestation of this disorder.

In the march for a better Nigeria for you , me and our children, where is Adeboye and the RCCG? I see atheists and muslims putting their bodies on the line for convictions which we all hold to be true, where is Oyedepo? Why has'nt the prosperity they preach reached us all?

All they need do is be a voice for truth and stop playing games witht he truth. That my brother is the issue and that's why Nigerian politicians will never take them serious they know they only appeal to the poor and helpless amongst us and their toxic doctrine has failed to bring any (as far as I can see) of our erring leaders to true repentance.

It's not likely Obasanjo would've given waivers of any sort to Tunde Bakare or then again who knows

Some things may not appear legally unacceptable , but are in deed morally wrong. An example is the bonuses recieved by employees of AIG. This is a company which is afloat because it recieved tax payers money. Now for that company to reward it's non performing executives with bonuses, is immoral.

The issue in question here is the perspective and out look of the RCCG. Tese are a few questions the RCCG SHOULD ASK ITSELF

Will accepting these waivers compromise our objectivity and more importantly our ability to do God's work?

What type of Government are we dealing with here?

Is this Government corrupt?

Which is more important to us, material gratification or speaking the truth?

There was a reason Elisha refused to collect Naaman's gifts. The morale of the tale is there's always a price to pay amd if the church is standing on God's side it wil most likely be at loggahead with the immoral and morally bankrauped P.D.P led government in Nigeria. Shame on our penticostal pastors , they are indeed a big disgrace.

I believe that an essential aspect of the christian faith has been lost, owing to the elevation of material gratification above all else. Pastors like Adeboye, Creflo Dollar, Kennith Haggin, Kennith Copeland, Bishop Oyedepo, Chris Ohyakilome(hope I got that right) propnents of the prosperity gospel lean towards the aquisition of material wealth to the detrement of more honorable spiritual ideals. Effectively they teach people that you can have the best of God and the best of the world, this is false and the biggest love-vendor of all time. The result is pure religious capitalism where social services which the church as a charitable organisation should be heavily involved in, is dispensed to only those who can afford it ( check out our christian universities in Nigeria) These mega pimps advance captialist rationale to justify this immorality, my father was educated by Methodist missionaries, were he born in our time it's easy to see he would get no help from the church seeing his father was only a carpener and a poor one at that.

All you have to so is observe the themes of christian cursades in Nigeria, it's a clear indication of what one can expect at these gatherings. The recent revelation that the RCCG profited from import waivers form the Obasanjo government explains why Adeboye could not speak out against the many evils of Obasanjo( It's bad manners to talk while eating ) He (Adeboye) should know that accepting these gratifications , would seroiously compromise his ability to be objective and so to maintain the moral high ground a simple "no thank you " would have done his credibilty a world of good, but Adeboye accepted it because in reality there's not much between Adeboye and Obasanjo, they're both Generals in their own rights and have charge over their troops.Truth be told Adeboye is just a religious politician (not sure if this is contextually permissible but you get my drift nothing more nothing less, that's how you buy a 4 billion Naira private Jet in these very challenging times.

@ IFELEKE

There's a difference between Judging and having an objective opinion on an issue.

It might interest all the Adeboye and penticostal apologists to note that, on the Pope's recent trip to Africa he arrived the continent on an Alitalia chartered flight, he does not need and does not have a private Jet even though he can afford TO.

I have bee a long time devotee of Adeboye but of recent my eyes have opened and I can see that Adeboye and the like are just men who have develped a thrist for power and and an un controllable appetite for rhe finer things of this world, which by their own account will burn in fire eventually.

Any body who can hob-nob with the very recalsitrant political elite and to the detriment of his or her own objectivity and better judgment is nothing but a politician and Adeboye is no different, he will do just fine in the PDP. SHAME ON HIM AND THE LIKE

@PapaBrowne

I REALLY THINK YOU SHOULD READ THE ARTICLE AGAIN. THE LOGIC IS FLAWLESS AND I CAN SE THE TRUTH ISPUNCHING YOU IN THE GUTS, DEAL WITH IT!!!

THE POINT IS BUYING A PRIVATE JET NOW IS AN IRRESPONSIBLE USE OF MONEY, AGINST THE BACKGTROUND OF ENDEMIC POVERTY NOT ONLT AMONGST NIGERIANS BUT WITHIN THE RCCG FLOCK.

ADEBOYE IN HIS HEART OF HEARTS I'M SURE KNOWS HE HAS GOOFFED, THE SIMPLE TRUTH IS WORLDWIDE THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO SPLURGE AND I'M STILL WAITNG FOR A DAY WHEN THE RCCG AND OTHER CAPITALIST CHRISTIANS WILL SPEND A GREATER PERCENTAGE OF THEIR WEALTH AND INCOME ON THE POOR AND NEEDY IN OUR SOCIEY UNTIL THEN SHAMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE ON THE WHOLE LOT

Pastor Adeboye's private jet
By Ebenezer Obadare

MEDIA reports that the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has purchased a private jet worth almost N4 billion (different news sources have quoted different figures) for its General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, have provoked a minor public storm. I am of the opinion that the matter ought to be utilized as an opportunity to bring to the table and open up for discussion broader issues centering on the relationship between religion and society in Nigeria.

In proceeding, I think it is only fair that I declare my bona fides: I am, of course, hardly a believer, but as a student of society, especially its postcolonial African type, I take religion very seriously; and like many African public intellectuals, especially those of a humanistic temperament, I am genuinely alarmed at the way in which Pentecostal Christianity has run riot in Nigeria. If religiosity in general comes with the capacity to numb the intellect, the brand of Christianity that has been on the ascendance in our country for the past decade and more fosters a certain incuriousness that borders on total intellectual surrender. Beyond this piece therefore, my project is to see how we might begin to advance the cause of intellectual skepticism in our country, with the ultimate aim of reclaiming the public sphere of critical deliberation, and our common understanding of public morality, from the forces of religious superstition.

So, what are the issues that, I suggest, demand our attention? The first critical issue, to my mind, is what both the decision of the Redeemed hierarchy to purchase a private jet, and the Redeemed Church itself as an institution, tell us about both the Nigerian state, and the state of things in Nigeria. For the truth of the matter is that in its practices and dynamics, the Redeemed Church itself has become an expression of the Nigerian state. In the current configuration, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Adeboye, operates more or less like a megaphone of the state, and these days, it is no coincidence that he is more likely to be seen mixing it with the political elite (governors, ministers, the vice president, the president), than with ordinary members of the Nigerian public. Such is the social proximity between the Redeemed Church and the state elite that the Redeemed Christian Church of God has virtually become the Redeemed Christian Church of State. Pastor Adeboye, in a dynamic that works quite well for the state and serves the ends of holders of political power, attends their (office holders') birthday ceremonies, blesses their respective families, and, at the end of each year, unfailingly prophesies positive things for the country they so spectacularly misgovern.

How has it come to this? How did we arrive at a situation where a man who was (and in some quarters, still is) widely respected for his personal austerity and moral courage, has now become the handmaiden of political power? And why does he now acquiesce in a decision to buy a N4billion private jet in a country with 80 percent youth unemployment, and where the majority of the population (including most of his own congregation) continues to wallows in absolute immiseration?

Part of the answer-and this is my second point- has to be found in the evolution and transformation of Nigerian Christianity in general, and the Redeemed Church in particular. I think it is fair to say that both are actually imbricated, and that to a large extent, the transformation of the RCCG from a backstreet church to a global brand (yes, brand) mirrors key developments in the evolution of Nigerian Christianity. The crucial milestones in the development of the Redeemed Church, and the important role played in it by the mathematician-turned-pastor, Enoch Adejare Adeboye, are now available in the public domain, so I will not allow it to detain me here. For the sake of clarity and because of its centrality to the argument I am trying to make here, I want to highlight the (Redeemed) Church's passage through three distinct, though quite inseparable, moments.

The first was the early period when the Church was literally under the spell of the austere pietism of its founder, the Reverend Josiah Akindayomi. During that period, the Redeemed Church, with its emphasis on a rigorous, no frills personal regime for its members, was very similar to what the Deeper Life Bible Church was- and still largely is. The unflattering apothegm, Ijo Elekun (literally, the church of the grieving) is recalled here as a testament to the perceived doctrinal severity of this early period. This image was to change with the ascendance of Pastor Adeboye in 1981- and the Church's rapid transition into a new era. The significance of Pastor Adeboye's ascendance lay in the departure from this somber model and the development of a new, less abstemious, theological outlook for the Church. We now live in a critical third moment in which that model has apparently triumphed.

The problem of course is that in taking its message to the world, the Redeemed Church has also, almost predictably, taken in a considerable part of the world. Today's Redeemed Church, with more than 6,000 parishes worldwide, is no doubt a successful religious brand, but like all brands, it has had to forge all sorts of shabby accommodations with corporatist 'sponsors' and 'the rulers of this world'. This is why, today, it has become difficult separating the leaf of the Church, from the soap of the world it was established, and still purports to, transform. Obvious material success, and a fatal conflation of ethos with corporations and politicians means that the Church that redefined Biblical economics (at least in this part of the world), is now in clear danger of being consumed by its creation.

But this is not just a problem that is unique to the Redeemed Church alone, and it is imperative- my final point- that we properly understand the broader formation in which the Adeboyes and Oyedepos of this world, and other members of what, elsewhere, I have described as a 'theocratic class', are produced by, and themselves reproduce, the logic (and illogics) of the postcolonial Nigerian state.

Because space is at a premium, I will flag this issue by posing a single question: Where did the RCCG get the money (N4b) to buy a private jet? Partly, no doubt, from the sale of the Redeemed 'franchise' and the fruits of its amorous affair with the state elite. And where does state money in Nigeria come from? Oil of course. So, the point is that the material preservation and sustenance of the political elite and the theocratic class in Nigeria are traceable to the same source, and to the extent that oil extraction in Nigeria is subtended by the logic of plunder, the (Redeemed) Church in Nigeria is directly implicated in it. It partly explains why the religious elite (with a few distinguished exceptions) is loathe to antagonize the state, and it comes as no surprise that, as in the current instance, the leading lights of the Pentecostal class, have adopted one of the worst aspects of the political elite's rampant consumerism.


Dr. Obadare is an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Kansas, United States

Tools

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@ hubreality

Yiu really are on that dope!!! What's wrong with a straight forward answer? We you make me sick

When I compare Pastor Chris and the like to Jesus and the propherts of old , it's clear they have nothing in common. All these church programmes do is simply reinforce the brand of the church period!!! It's obvious that Pastor Chris and his penticostal hencmen are only making a living of our collective misery.

The simple reason why these wolves cannot speakout against courruption and eveil in our society, is because they rely on the benovelence of the politcal class and so they have lost their objectivity, credibility and respect. Picture the RCCG accepting import subsidies from Obasanjo, no wonder Adeboye cannot talk. The government in turn gives out national awards to it's friends.

I'd like to see the schools, hospitals, skill aquisition centers etc, Pastor Chris and his theiving lot have built!! Rather they have money for schools which the poor cannot afford and they do this in the name of Jesus and the very gullible Nigerian is so poor mentally and materially he cannot read between the lines and see he is just beign pimped. Jesus and our pimps on the pulpit have nothing in common.

SHAME ON NIGERIAN PENTICOSTALISM

Dora Akunyili is a fraud . Her so called achievements at NAFDAC are a product of propaganda (ask the parents who lost their babies to "my pickin" ) Yaradua is clueless, uninformed and a dismal failure. I can understand why his government needs re-branding. The question I want to ask is after re-branding what next? is this supposed to attract foreign investment? how does that put food on my table? They are all shameless failurers. Dora is nothing more than a power hungry bitch, she'll rot in hell!!!!

The recent revelations of import subsidies granted the RCCG by the Obasanjo government, explains why Adeboye and his merry men could not and cannot utter any objective critisims of government. This is because they were and are profiting from the shame that is Nigeria and recieving national awards which he does not deserve. Rather than speak out they encourage us to dream and pray for our leaders. How can anyone justify this outrageous pruchase of a 4 billion naira jet in these troubled times? SHAME ON ADEBOYE AND THE RCCG AND PENTICOSTAL NIGERIA!!!!!

It's sad neither T.B Joshua or Adeboye could warn us of the Credit crunch. They both have no credibilty asa far as I'm concerned but T.B Joshua has more brownie points on account of his charity

Adeboye and the like should please, shut up, after hob-nobbing with Obasanjo and the like for the past 8years he should know the kurrupt people stoping the so called glory of God from shinning on Nigeria, Adeboye have you ever spoken out personally against kurruption in this country, I did'nt think so.  

mEANING i WANT YOU TO CALL OR TEXT ME SO WE CAN BE FRIENDS. I 'd like that very much

@ patwhixzkid

you know you can eat it or throw it away.

Sup y'all, just looking to meet any ladies and fellas who wana be friends with me. realised I don't have that many. Wana start giving a little more of myself. so common send me a mail at daybedwet@yahoo.com or shout me a holler on 08067597101, waiting!!!!!

That bill flew only because the democrats are in the majority in the house, Interesting is'nt it

No single republican voted for Barak Obama's 800 Billion Dollar stimulus package. How much of that was political?

What really gets to me is that Adeboye and the like really believe they are DOING US A FAVOUR by beign pastors.

The truth is Adeboye

dayokanu:
Can this man just shut up.

Nigeria is going deeper into the abyss and he wont mind his own people but keep ranting about Obama this Obama that.

The scammer is at it again.

I am sure millions would come forth and say Amen to his Obama vision.

Why didnt he see and warn us about the fraud of his friend Obasanjo

Shioorr

spot on bro!!! The truth is thr victory of Obama belongs to the American people who were able to look beyond racial lines and chose the better of two evils Also to an electoral process that works. Adeboye should mind his back yard and remeber that his unwillingness to speak out against EVIL PUBLICLY!!! and his penchant to romance the powers that be is the reason Obama will not work in Nigeria, Shame on him and the like, con men all.

Obasanjo, Atiku and Yaradua are all failures and cannot bring lasting development to Nigeria , People please avoid any contact with them.

Kaduna Nzeogwu and his group were real heros. The rest rest of the so- called National hero's are worked to acheive sectorial goals to the detrement of National ones, the result of which we are still grappling with today.

I disagree with your interpretation of our constitution. Reconising religion is not the same thing as making constitutional provisions for it. The most important question is, should the sharia police be allowed to infringe on the rights of these citizens? When there is a government in place whose responsibility it is to protect these rights. The constitution provides for freedom of speech and assembly,,,this is not Sudan.

The failure of the Obasanjo government to nip this in the bud, by simply getting the atourney general to interpret the constitution and lay this to rest.

Has led to this very distasteful situation, Islamic police have no right to infringe on the constitutionally guaranteed rights of citizens, case closed.

@ Afam

I don't have to be in denial or a liar to disagree with you . Despite your feeble attempts at evoking some kind of nationalistic emotion the simple truth is ,

on evry single development indicies Nigeria has fared worse this when the Obj administration came to power. What happened to the U.B.E scheme, Niational I.D card project, the last census, war on graft, need I say more?

Ghana is the way it is because of the input of it's former leaders, Ghana is on the right path at least politically is Nigeria?

I read with disgust this shamefull interpretation of the facts about the Obj administration. The fact is that it WAS A COLLOSAL FAILURE!!!! You speak of rescuing NIGERIA FROM THE DEBT PROBLEM. It is instructive to note that the infrastructure necessary to ensure an improvement in Nigeria's manufacturing capcity, which will impact on her cash flows thereby limiting her propensity to borrow is non existent. The fact is that Nigeria will borrow , borrow and borrow again.

You speak of our foreign reserves. Well the truth is that these reserves where not built up because of any thing the government did. It simply profited from fluctuations in the international market. Nigeria belong to a cartel called OPEC, which dictates to it's members Nigeria incusive, how much oil to produce, what price to sell it's oil. The resultant effect is Nigeria does not have direct control over it's prime money earner. ( Lets not forget our dear brothers in the Niger Delta bunkering this oil) Many of us have argued against having a strategic reserve. You have a reserve which your government visits everytime they need to spluerge!!! That's not a reserve that a floss account. Ask Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, she might tell you a thing or two about the finacial irresponsibility of the Obj govt.


You speak of the Abuja stadium, the same one which had the roof off it's velodrome ripped off after a rain storm, which conservative estimations by renowed economists say that the actual cost should be within the region of 32 billion naira, but at the closing ceremony of the coja jamboree 64 billon had been spent and it was still not finished? I will go the way of the National stadium in Lagos, just wait nd see.

You speak of power!!!! The SINGLE MOST PROVABLE FACT IS THAT THE IPP WAS A BIG SACM, Obasanjo should take responsibility for this and stop paying people like "You" to launder his image,dude is a fraud, wonder if his liabrary is open for business now? You don't have to tell a blind man iut's raining, 14BILLION SPENT and no improvements in the power sector we all should be ashamed .

The inescapable truth is that what ever good he did was influenced greatly by selfish motives. Obj is a disgrace as far as governance is concerned, his record in all sectors speak for themselves. Not just him but the entire political class, especially those pastors who wined and dined with him, in my opinion they're just as bad. What about it's war on terror, sorry war on Kurrpution? see how that went.

Perhaprs his greatest failure was his choice of a succersor, the reuslt of which we are still grappling with.

I'm just one of thoses poor disgruntled haters so I guuess my vote does not count

The truth is penticostal Nigeria IS A BIG FRAUD!!! Our pastors have money for private Jets and rock star lifestyles, built on the back of the poor. They don't have money to meaningfully improve or even give back to society dispite their status as charitable organisations. God seems to be always in need of our money, always needing elaborate edifices in which to dwell, always having an all you can eat at these meaningless night vigils and revivals which only serve to fill the churches coffers with eager money.

There is really no difference between the Adeboye's of this world and our politicians, thy're all the same. Our pastors do not speakout against the social ills and abuse of power, for fear of loosing the patronage of their political benefactors, rather they covertly and overtly curry their favour. Just look at the dispotic manner these pastors run their organisations and you'll understand why democracy and accountability are alien to them.

They say Adeboye is one of the most influencial men in the world? He certainly did not use his influence to speak for the voiceless and oppressed, like the Desmond Tutu's of this world. Adeboye danced and dinned with the powers that be, how else would he prove that God is wuith him, If he had told OBJ the truth their relationship would have ended longtimeand he's probably not get his licence for his University.

If Jesus behaved like Adeboye he would never have had to die on the cross, he would have romanced the Jewish aristocracy and probably become one of the most influencial liars of his time. Shame on these leaders my people be warned!!!

If you play the violin and want to make music with a guitarist, holler 08067597101.

The only thing keeping this country together is the exploitation of mineral resources. The proccedes of this enterprise are stolen by the political and economic elite, to the detriment of Nigeria as a whole. If  the sale of fossil fules ceases to be economically viable Nigeria will not last ten minutes, Nigeria is just a big joke, but nobody's laughing now.  If the Yaradua and Obasanjo governments failed to appreciably improve the lot of the average Nigerian with a oil prices soaring over a hundred dollars, I fail to see how the present unambitious government will make any impact with prices hovering around thirty nine dollasr per barrel, It's easy to see there's no future for Nigeria.