Christian leaders in Nigeria have joined their Cameroonian
counterparts to condemn the recent clampdown on Pentecostal churches in
Cameroun.
counterparts to condemn the recent clampdown on Pentecostal churches in
Cameroun.
President
Paul Biya had ordered the closure of 50 churches, many of which originated from
Nigeria.
Paul Biya had ordered the closure of 50 churches, many of which originated from
Nigeria.
Pastors
in Bamenda and Douala had on Wednesday marched against the government’s order.
in Bamenda and Douala had on Wednesday marched against the government’s order.
Reacting
to the development, the Chairman, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Lagos
chapter, Apostle Alex Bamgbola, asked Biya to reverse the order or face God’s
wrath.
to the development, the Chairman, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Lagos
chapter, Apostle Alex Bamgbola, asked Biya to reverse the order or face God’s
wrath.
He
said closing the churches down was tantamount to closing his life and career if
he failed to reverse the order.
said closing the churches down was tantamount to closing his life and career if
he failed to reverse the order.
Bamgbola
said, “Since I read about the development in the dailies, I have been praying
for Biya. I ask him to reverse the order or be ready to face the anger of God.
said, “Since I read about the development in the dailies, I have been praying
for Biya. I ask him to reverse the order or be ready to face the anger of God.
“Quote
me, Biya cannot get away with this just like the biblical King Nebuchadnezzar.”
me, Biya cannot get away with this just like the biblical King Nebuchadnezzar.”
A
former General Overseer, Foursquare Gospel Church, Nigeria, Rev. Wilson Badejo,
said since the churches were formally registered to operate, Biya should have gone
through the proper channel to correct whatever wrong he had noticed.
former General Overseer, Foursquare Gospel Church, Nigeria, Rev. Wilson Badejo,
said since the churches were formally registered to operate, Biya should have gone
through the proper channel to correct whatever wrong he had noticed.
Badejo
said, “It is wrong for him to summarily order the closure of churches. That is
the spiritual heartbeat of the country. They are harmless institutions. I call
on him to reverse the order.”
said, “It is wrong for him to summarily order the closure of churches. That is
the spiritual heartbeat of the country. They are harmless institutions. I call
on him to reverse the order.”
Badejo
said the Christian community in the country should have a dialogue with Biya
before taking any action against him.
said the Christian community in the country should have a dialogue with Biya
before taking any action against him.
Corroborating
his view, the founder of Evangelical Ministries, Bishop Stephen Ogedengbe, said
Biya was heading towards wrath by closing down the house of God.
his view, the founder of Evangelical Ministries, Bishop Stephen Ogedengbe, said
Biya was heading towards wrath by closing down the house of God.
He
said except he reversed the action, he should prepare for the implication of
his action.
said except he reversed the action, he should prepare for the implication of
his action.
“We
are seeing the manifestations of the end times. African leaders are playing
God. Biya should not only look at the negative incident he referred to for
shutting the churches, what about the many good things that people have
benefitted from the churches?
are seeing the manifestations of the end times. African leaders are playing
God. Biya should not only look at the negative incident he referred to for
shutting the churches, what about the many good things that people have
benefitted from the churches?
“I
just want him to know that this will not stand. Churches in Nigeria are already
praying against the move,” he said.
just want him to know that this will not stand. Churches in Nigeria are already
praying against the move,” he said.
Biya
had declared the Pentecostal churches as illegal and posing security threats.
had declared the Pentecostal churches as illegal and posing security threats.
He
cited the collapse and death of a nine-year-old girl during a prayer session in
a Pentecostal church in Bamenda as a further reason for his action.
cited the collapse and death of a nine-year-old girl during a prayer session in
a Pentecostal church in Bamenda as a further reason for his action.
Source: Punch
