Oyedepo's Church Divide Over Prayer For Jonathan

The internet went agog on Sunday evening when President Jonathan visited Winners chapel, Otta in Ogun state.

Pst. Oyedepo and President Jonathan

PMnews reports that all attempts made by the Winners overseer, Bishop David Oyedepo to make members of his congregation stand up to pray for President Goodluck Jonathan to win the 14 February Presidential election were all to no avail.

It was made known that while some stood up reluctantly, some members who were not happy with Jonathan’s administration refused to stand up from their seats to pray for him. However pastor Oyedepo was unperturbed as he finally prayed for Jonathan by himself.
The said visit of the president has obviously caused a lot more havoc than blessings as the church has been under serious scrutiny and condemnations from Nigerians. President Jonathan, with some of his aides, the Chief of Staff to the President, Jones Arogbofa and the Executive Secretary, Christian Pilgrim Board, Mr. Kennedy Okpara, worshipped at the church during its third service after they arrived the church premises in a helicopter.

Within few minutes after they left, the ”not-so-palatable”, malicious report sent the internet agog with various local blogging site misquoting and misinforming the public about what really happened during at the service during the president’s visit. Thus,  resulting in the outrage that greeted the President’s visit.

While some Nigerians said they were shocked that Oyedepo could make such a comment, others went comic calling him a man of “small gods.” Unfortunately, however, many of these bloggers and news writers were not in the church during the President’s visit, but they all attributed their news to sources within the church.

According to PMnews correspondent who attended the same service which was also attended by the President, his aides and politicians in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from Lagos and Ogun states, the drama began from the church.

Before his preaching during the service, Bishop Oyedepo gave President Jonathan the opportunity to address the congregation. When he mounted the podium, Jonathan made it known that he does not want to say too much so that Nigerians would not think he only attended the church to campaign. Urging  everyone present to pray for the country, he said:

“There are various predictions concerning the election, but I trust God to take control of the situation,“I commend Bishop Oyedepo for his commitment to the work of God and education, without education we can’t achieve much,” he added.

While some of the church members were excited to see Jonathan, others grumbled, saying he had suddenly turned to the Winners Chapel after he discovered that he is no longer welcomed at the Redeemed Christian Church of God since a senior pastor of the church, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, is now the running mate to Buhari who is contesting against Jonathan in the election.

Some also whispered that the pastors in the country were not helping matters as they are not acting like prophets and leaders in the Bible who spoke truth to people in power. After his speech, the Bishop asked that the church members stand up and pray for the President.

He asked that since God always answered prayers of the church members, they should pray for God to give the President the wisdom and strength to rule the country and the unusual grace to lead the nation.

However, it was made known that while many stood up and prayed fervently, some sat down, while some used the opportunity to pray for themselves.

It would be recalled that just yesterday, former Nigeria’s President Olusegun Obasanjo reacted to the words of  the Presiding Bishop of the Winners Chapel Ministry of The Living Faith Church Dr. David Oyedepo. Obasanjo advised Nigerians not to allow any pastor to dictate to themm who they are going to vote for in the coming elections.