Akindayomi Adeboye
To avert further negative publicity over a petition written by a member of the Akindayomi family, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) on Monday rushed back to Nigeria from the United Kingdom to hold an emergency meeting with the family of the Reverend Akindayomi, founder of the church.
The closed door session was arranged to put out the fire generated by a petition published on SaharaReporters which was written by a member of the family. In the petition which was circulated to several zonal coordinators of the RCCG across the globe, Oluwakojo accused the RCCG leader of lack of transparency and complete deviation from the principles and vision of the founder of the late Pa. Josiah Akindayomi.
Oluwakojo, a grandson of Pa. Akindayomi, has refused to back down from his position, he reportedly refused all entreaties to withdraw his petition from circulation before it was eventually sent to SaharaReporters.
In a rejoinder sent to SaharaReporters today, Pastor Mrs Titi Akindayomi-Adewale, one of the daughters of Pa Akindayomi, stated that the family has been “very satisfied” with the running of RCCG since the death of their father 30 years ago. She also affirmed that in the last 30 years, the family has received “substantial financial support” from RCCG and that the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Pa Akindayomi have been beneficiaries of that support.
With reference to the touchy subject of transparency, the rejoinder said, “We believe that the running of the church is left to the discretion of whoever God has appointed as the General Overseer of His Church. We trust Daddy G.O and we know that whatever decision he makes is as led by God.
Hence, we do not need to have an idea of RCCG accounts or any decision making processes regarding any building work, major or even minor project. The Akindayomi family doesn’t feel any disrespect because the church doesn’t report to us.”
Five of the Akindayomis, including Mrs. Titi Akindayomi-Adewale, who lives in New York and reportedly joined the meeting by speakerphone, met with Pastor Adeboye yesterday.
A family source told SaharaReporters that the “peace meeting” was called to put an end to all the bickering and all the complaints surrounding the way the church is being run. He noted, however, that the meeting last night was only a temporary truce as long as all members of the Akindayomi family are not brought together to resolve their difference over the matter.
Pa. Akindayomi founded RCCG, popularly referred to as “Redeemed,” after he left a white garment church. Prior to founding the church, he was a polygamist. The family crisis reportedly stems from that background as the founder was said to have ditched one of his wives quietly when he became a born again Christian.
Today’s rejoinder did not end without mentioning the petitioner by name. “Contrary to Abiodun Olukowajo’s opinion, the Akindayomi’s family knows that God led late Rev. Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi to appoint Pastor Adeboye after him to be the General Overseer of RCCG for life,”
Dismissing the call for the church to be involved in choosing its GO, the rejoinder said he has the “divine right as directed by God” to choose his successor.
“We do not believe, and as a matter of fact, it is not in the original word God gave Papa to elect the General Overseer by ballot or election. We trust, believe and in submission to the authority God has set over us and not democracy.”
However, a member of RCCG in New York told Saharareporters that Pastor Titi frequently expresses concern the abandonment of the family and this source pointed us to the pastor’s Facebook page where she made an entry on July 14, 2009 to the effect that, “Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”. This source disclosed to our correspondent that Pastor Titi’s entry was an indirect reference to the fact that Pastor Adeboye was basking in the glory whose foundation was made by her father.
The full rejoinder by Pastor Mrs Titi Akindayomi-Adewale:
1. We are very satisfied with the running of RCCG since the death of Late Rev. Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi 30 years ago.
2. Regarding payments, the Akindayomi Family has received substantial financial support from RCCG in the last 30 years – with children and grand children and great grand children as beneficiaries
3. RCCG has grown from 40 parishes to an applaudable 20,000+ parishes across the globe with the primary interest to win souls as articulated in the mission of the church
4. The legacy of the Late Rev. Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi …(It is the responsibility of the children to reflect the legacies of the father in their conducts.) Galatians 6:4-says “Let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another”. Moreover, Late Rev. Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi mentioned during his lifetime didn’t want any ceremonies heralding him because his main goal was to always put Jesus at the fore-front. Hence, not even after his demise.
5. Regarding transparency, we believe that the running of the church is left to the discretion of whoever God has appointed as the General Overseer of His Church. We trust Daddy G.O and we know that whatever decision he makes is as led by God. Hence, we do not need to have an idea of RCCG accounts or any decision making processes regarding any building work, major or even minor project. The Akindayomi family doesn’t feel any disrespect because the church doesn’t report to us.
6. The vision of late Rev. Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi has been adequately preserved and even taken further by Daddy G.O. whatever improvements that have been made by Daddy G.O have been for the furtherance of the gospel of Jesus Christ and we are satisfied with that. Hence, we do not need a permanent representative of the family in the governing council to act as a police or signatory to any document.
7. There is absolutely no need for a family picture of the surviving members of late Rev. Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi to be included in any publication of RCCG. This is God’s church, not a business venture.
8. The Akindayomi family does not require any disclosure to be made in regards to purchases of buildings, transportations and salaries of decision makers. We also do not demand that this information be made public to the worldwide membership annually. The Akindayomi family is not requesting a full disclosure of the private assets of the decision makers at the RCCG. It is none of our business.
9. Daddy G.O is the General Overseer of the RCCG and it is entirely appropriate and responsible for his name to be clearly and easily located on any RCCG material/resource. This is an attribute of a good leader and it is entirely his decision wherever he would like his name located.
10. The Akindayomi’s family is satisfied with the spiritual direction of RCCG under Daddy G.O’s leadership. We trust his beliefs and we can bank on his integrity as a man that seeks to please God always. We believe in the advancements, so we do not demand that RCCG reverts back to its original position. “The Church is marching on”… We continually pray that God’s grace and anointing be increased upon his life so he can continue the good work in advancing the kingdom of God.
11. Contrary to Abiodun Olukowajo’s opinion, the Akindayomi’s family knows that God led late Rev. Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi to appoint Pastor Adeboye after him to be the General Overseer of RCCG for life. Thus, he has the divine right as directed by God to choose his successor after him too. We do not believe, and as a matter of fact, it is not in the original word God gave Papa to elect the General Overseer by ballot or election. We trust, believe and in submission to the authority God has set over us and not democracy.
SIGNED: Pastor Mrs Titi Akindayomi-Adewale, New York
August 2, 2011
Author: Chief Editor
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