The Founder and President of Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel International, Dr. David Oyedepo, has denied reports that quoted him as charging Christians to take up arms against Muslims in the recent killings in Southern Kaduna.
Various reports in the traditional and social media had quoted the Presiding Bishop as also saying that Nigeria could as well break up if religious and ethnic injustice could not be addressed.
He also reportedly called out and berated “the politicians who were fun-watching the carnage or fanning the embers of violence”.
But the clergyman, according to a statement issued by the Chairman, Editorial and Media Board of the church, Dr. Sheriff Folarin, has described the reports as fake.
Quoting reports on both online and print platforms which quoted the Bishop as saying “God has anointed me to lead a revolution against the Islamic jihadists,” he described the report as false, adding that the video from which the quotes were taken is a 2015 video at a Sunday service in the heat of the Boko Haram crisis when churches, including Winners’ Chapel’s Northern assemblies were under frequent attacks.
“This was before the present administration took office,” he said.
“The message bears no relevance to today’s happenings; not even developments of 2016.
“The reporter(s), either being completely unprofessional, lazy or simply wicked, made the 2015 message look like a 2017 church service message.
“The trending video is NOT a 2016 or 2017 video.
“To this end, we can unequivocally and authoritatively say that this quote, the report and other similar reports do not fit the context of the Kaduna crisis or any developments whatsoever in the last one year.
“The reports are, therefore, fake, unbelievably and maliciously fabricated and outright lies. They are tweaked, baseless and fraudulent.
“Bishop Oyedepo has not said, either in private or public, anything related to the Southern Kaduna killings; not now, not hitherto.
“If there has been anything done, it has been prayer for peace and unity of Nigeria.
“The intent of the original author(s) or fabricators is best known to them.”
The statement said for the records, Bishop Oyedepo would not say any of those things in view of the dire straits the country has found itself.
“There are too many problems at hand, which require divine intervention. He will not add to the throes and utter such divisive words.”
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