Why those in power are turning deaf ears to the Church —Oyekanmi

Pastor (Dr) Samuel Oyekanmi is the head of the Lagos branch of the Light of Christ Church (Aladura), Iju-Isaga, Lagos State, and the eldest son of the founder of the church. In this interview with SEYI SOKOYA, he speaks on why the leadership of the country must collaborate with the Church, among other issues.

 

Is the Church doing enough to help the Federal Government with its many challenges?

Not really. I want to be in the middle, because you are saying the Church as a whole. As for me, the leaders of the Church are not doing enough. The Church is a big entity with different categories, some you don’t even know existed. Some you know the name of their leaders and not even the name of their churches and they are close to the leaders. So, that is why I said not really, because some of them are expected to tell our leaders the truth. But many are afraid of speaking the truth to power because they are on their payroll.

In that wise, we have failed, but as a whole, we are doing all we can do to pray for the nation as well as propagate the gospel in various forms as God has commissioned us. But who knows, maybe those in power are not ready to listen to the Church’s advice or maybe it does not even reach them, but the leaders of the Church who have the opportunity to reach those in power are not doing enough.

 

Are you saying that the government is turning deaf ears to the warnings and advice of the Church?

Yes, because of what they want. They don’t want to lose their power; they want to continue in wealth, they want to live large. Even if they want to do the right thing, the fear of not losing all they have acquired the wrong way will make them turn deaf ears. They have forgotten that one day, they will leave all behind.

 

What is the difference between the Light of Christ Church (Aladura) and other white garment churches?

It is a doctrine that believes in the efficacy of God’s power and manifestation through prayer and the Bible. We are the Aladura Church, though many people think it is only the white garment denomination that goes by that name. We are not new, the church will be 60 this year, and the founder is still alive to the glory of God. We only put on white garments when we have special revivals, but worshippers can dress normally on regular services.

 

Why is this?

It is God’s ordinance. We wear shoes to church, we don’t do any ritual. We believe in the spiritual water, anointing oil and that is all. Like I said earlier, we believe in prayer and the word of God-the Bible. We are neither C&S, Celestial nor Christ Apostolic Church. You know CAC is also Aladura, but they don’t use white garment. The founder, Reverend (Dr) Mrs A. O. Oyekanmi was called when she was seven years old, and by the grace of God, she was taken to Baba Ayo Babalola, the founder of CAC at Ife then, because there were insinuations that she was possessed, but Baba Babalola confirmed that she is an instrument for God. So, she was nurtured in the way of the Lord and when she grew up, she started the church. She was led by the Spirit of God to start the church in 1960. She has never been under any church; she stood with the vision God gave her. She started at Oke-Ado area of Ibadan, Oyo State, in a rented apartment and the church has grown in leaps and bounds. The headquarters is at Odo-ona Elewe, Ibadan, popularly known as Church Nla. We also have in Ilesa, Abeokuta, Oyo, Lagos, London and USA, among others.

 

You are the head of the Lagos branch of the church, how has the experience been?

It has been awesome. It is always a good thing to be taught in the way of the Lord and also to abide in it. I have been in the vineyard from my cradle and I know how sweet God is. So, it was not a strange thing to do the will of God and follow His ordinance. I was at the church headquarters before I was transferred to head the Lagos church. Though, I still come here to assist my younger brother and our mother at the headquarters, we bless God for how far He has brought the ministry. The Lagos branch will clock 20 years this month, precisely on September 12 and plans have been concluded to make the celebration a memorable one.

A major highlight of the celebration is the launch of my new book, entitled, “Chronicles of Life and Death”. It is a research that I have done for many years about life and death. I discovered that many people are being cheated into death, they die, they regret. We should not be afraid of death. The book will free many from all the lies that we have been fed in the midst of dying and death. God has helped me to reveal it.

 

With the happenings in churches today, it is obvious that people reckon with churches than the Nigerian government. Many even claim to find solace in churches than the leadership of the country. Why do you think is responsible for this?

People look for solution to their problems; they tend to move around looking for that solution. So, they stick to anywhere they find the solution. They have tried all other places, but most of them believe that God can do it, and they have tried God and they are convinced that He is helping through Jesus Christ. So, their problems are being solved, their burdens are being lifted, the sick are being healed and so many other things. So, they tend to stick to that because it works for them. The name of Jesus works. It is a fact that human beings cannot be depended upon and those in the affairs of the country are humans, so they are bound to fail. All of us must abide in the Lord as he is the only one to stabilise the country.

 

Church providing solutions to people’s problems can’t be contested, but instant miracles seem to be fading in today’s church unlike in the time of our forefathers. What went wrong?

We still have instant miracles, it may not be pronounced, though we have the privilege of the internet, television, radio, but not everybody will have the time or resources to propagate the gospel and show the people who are being healed or set free. So, it happens sometimes people don’t want to go public about it. People are still thanking God for the miracles in their lives. Some are not instant, some are gradual. Some encounter instant miracles during revivals and even at normal programmes. God’s ways are not our ways.

 

But nemesis has caught up with many clerics stage-managing fake miracles and those focusing more on prosperity message to populate their churches. Are these not a dent on the Church?

I don’t want to castigate any cleric or any denomination, but like the Bible says, in the end time, there will be different doctrines, but something is very sure, the word of God can never change. In the word of God, there is prosperity, but it is not complete until you go into the other aspects of the gospel, like repentance, living a good life as a Christian. Christianity is light itself, so in it is prosperity. You don’t need to preach prosperity as such, because when you do what you are supposed to do as a Christian, you will prosper.

 

Despite the fact that the Federal Government was able to curb youths’ anger through EndSARS, there are speculations that there might be another strike if the needful is not done. Is this a right direction to follow?

No, but I still want to advise government not to give room for such to happen again, because it will be worse. The government should act fast on the complaints of the youths and provide a lasting solution. Although, they claim to have been putting some things in place, they need to intensify efforts in order to achieve a landmark difference. They should look at the economy, education and other sectors that will transform the lives of our youths. If jobs are in place, youths will work and earn a living. They won’t mind to work, when there is no job. The country experiences more problems when the youths are jobless and helpless. This is why vices keep increasing in the society.

It is embarrassing that Nigeria’s doctors are travelling abroad en masse for jobs. This shows that our health sector is in shambles. Workers must always go on strike to demand for their rights, while our leaders are not being owed their fat salaries.

 

So, what should be the hope of the masses as the challenges of the country increase?

Prayer and fasting; this should also involve our leaders. They should call Christians together to seek God’s intervention on a designated date. The Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN), Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and other Christian associations should come together with the government to fast and pray for Nigeria. Also, every human must live a holy and righteous life.

 

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