The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeoye, has justified his ownership of a private jet, saying it is necessary for efficiency in his assignment.
Adeboye, who oversees churches in about 160 countries, stated this in an interview with Aljazeera, a global news channel aired on Saturday.
The interview was part of a documentary on the RCCG’s monthly Holy Ghost Congress, and revolved around the veracity of the miracles and the wealth of preachers and heads of churches.
Aljazeera’s Mohammed Adow, questioned the ownership of the palatial residences and the private jets by Nigerian church leaders, who he said had become wealthy through miracle preaching.
In response, Adeboye said a private jet was a necessity for him.
He said, “There are things you need, which you must have if you are to be efficient.”
Adow then said, “And a private jet is one of them?”
Adeboye replied, “If you have to oversee churches in 160 nations, you can’t do that on a bicycle.”
Earlier, Adow said many of the worshippers, who often number over half a million, flock to the Holy Ghost Congress service to seek a release from the harsh economic reality in the country.
“If the people have not been getting their miracles, by now, they would have stopped coming. If you listen to some of the testimonies, you will hear of miracles of healing, miracles of deliverance, miracles of child birth; miracles of success in academics etc,” Adeboye said.
The documentary, which lasted two-and-half minutes, ended with the commentator saying, “More and more Nigerians are convincing themselves that their government has gone to sleep, so to the pastors, they rush for help.”
In recent times, some Nigerian preachers and heads of churches have come under heavy criticism for purchasing private jets.
Many Nigerians have argued that is wrong pastors to own private jets in a country where most of the population live below the poverty line.
One of the most criticised is the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria and General Overseer of The Word of Life Bible Church, who got a private jet as a present during the celebration of his birthday and his 40th anniversary on the pulpit.
Other heads of churches who own private jets include Bishop David Oyedepo, the head of the Living Faith Church Worldwide; and Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, who heads Christ Embassy.
Source: Punch
