RCCG Overseer Challenges Pastor Madugba on Adeboye Oil Well Claims

Pastor Johnson Odesola, the Continental Overseer for the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in the South West, Nigeria, and the Middle East, has come to the defence of the church’s General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye. This follows allegations that former President Olusegun Obasanjo illicitly granted oil wells to several prominent Nigerian pastors, including Adeboye, during his time in office.

In an opinion piece published on Impact Nigeria on Tuesday, Odesola directly challenged Rev. Mosy Madugba, the founder and president of the Ministers’ Prayer Network, to present concrete evidence to substantiate his claims. Madugba had earlier circulated a sermon on social media, alleging that Obasanjo allocated oil wells not only to Pastor Adeboye but also to Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, and Pastor William Kumuyi, General Superintendent of Deeper Christian Life Ministry.

Madugba's sermon suggested that these alleged oil interests were connected to the establishment of universities, hospitals, and schools by these religious leaders, as well as the acquisition of private aircraft by some of them. Responding to these assertions, Odesola described the allegation as grave, demanding verifiable proof such as official government documents, petroleum licensing records, and detailed company ownership information.

He further pressed Madugba to disclose the source of his information, enquiring whether he personally witnessed the alleged allocations or if his claims were based on documents or reliable sources. Odesola emphasized that "A statement made from a pulpit does not automatically become established truth because the speaker is a respected minister of the gospel or holds the title of professor."

The RCCG overseer noted that while reports on the circulating sermon exist, they lack documentary evidence confirming Obasanjo's allocation of an oil well to Adeboye. He clarified, "This does not establish that no document could ever exist. It establishes that the allegation remains unsubstantiated in the public domain."

Odesola explained his decision to address the allegations against Adeboye stemmed from his long-standing association with both the cleric and the church, having been an RCCG member for over five decades and working closely with Adeboye for more than forty years.

He countered the notion that the growth of RCCG, including its university and other institutions, serves as proof that its General Overseer personally benefited from political allocations. Odesola highlighted that Reverend Josiah Akindayomi founded the church, with Adeboye assuming the role of General Overseer in 1981, following Akindayomi's passing in 1980.

He also pointed to Adeboye's strong academic background, which includes degrees in Mathematics, Hydrodynamics, and Applied Mathematics, stressing that the church’s expansion is a result of decades of missionary work, evangelism, and generous contributions from its members. Regarding Redeemer’s University, Odesola stated that RCCG established the institution, securing Federal Government approval in January 2005 before commencing academic activities in October of the same year. He reiterated that the university's existence, along with other church institutions, does not indicate Adeboye’s personal receipt of an oil well.

The cleric also dismissed the idea that private aircraft used by religious leaders necessarily implied personal ownership or acquisition through alleged oil interests. He proposed that any investigation into such allegations should identify the specific oil block name or number, the recipient company, its shareholders and beneficial owners, the allocation date, and the approving government authority.

Odesola maintained that RCCG is not obligated to provide a detailed response to every allegation circulating on social media, asserting that the primary responsibility to substantiate a claim rests with the accuser. However, he affirmed that the church and relevant authorities would address legitimate questions should verifiable evidence surface.

Urging Madugba to clarify his assertions, Odesola called on him to either publish supporting documents for his allegations or explain the foundation of his statement. He added that if the information was erroneous, Madugba should be prepared to correct the record. "I do not claim that this personal experience makes the church immune from scrutiny. Neither am I suggesting that Pastor Adeboye or any other religious leader should be above the law," Odesola penned. He concluded by emphasizing that allegations should not be accepted as established facts without evidence, urging Nigerians to differentiate between an allegation and a proven fact until such evidence is presented.