Epistle to the Lagos Pentecostals: protest this persecution.

By Bolaji O. Akinyemi.

Where are the politicians moles in Christian Association of Nigeria and the PFN in particular?

Are they all on holiday to enjoy the largesse of Government Appointment they very well deserved having worked selfishly for personal reward and trading out the common goal of the body to get the reward of filthy lucre from the government?

Where is Bishop STV Adegbite? He didn’t hide his preference to see the church and Christians persecuted under the Muslim Muslim ticket of APC that saw Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Vice Alhaji Kashim Shettima through to the Presidency.

My voice was loud on the danger of a Muslim Muslim ticket. The docility of my constituents of faith didn’t help matters, many thought my own was too much!

I was concerned about the inevitable crisis loading in PFN being sponsored by agents of politicians who want the body destroyed ahead of their, grab it, snatch it and run away with it season 2 agenda 2027. When I received a screenshot copy of a letter addressed to the PFN Chairman Lagos State sent to me by one of the leading pentecostal fathers of faith in Lagos.

Talking about addressing a letter to the PFN Chairman, who though not mentioned in the letter is Pastor Yemi Davies, who hasn’t resumed office, he was conspicuously absent at the state valedictory service and thanksgiving of the outgoing executives. The potential snare of his absence at the valedictory service and the danger it poses for the future of PFN and its stability is a story for another day.

Adegbite is the Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria; a body consisting of five (5) Blocs: Christian Council of Nigeria, CCN, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, CSN, Organisation of African Instituted Churches of Nigeria the remaining two blocs are merged bodies, the first is a merger between the Evangelical Church Winning All and the Fellowship of the Churches of Christ in Nigeria and the last a merger between Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, CPFN and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN.

Why then was PFN singled out?

Is it that others don’t have cars to park in their churches or do that all have enough space to accommodate every single car of congregants that shows up to worship with them? Not even the body to which PFN was merged to earn a bloc in CAN was addressed along with her in the letter of the Lagos State Agency.

One out of technically 7 groups that make up CAN is being targeted for persecution. Could this be because the PFN Chairmanship election in Lagos didn’t go the way of Adegbite and the government he is representing in CAN? or it is a way to pressure the newly elected Chairman on whose table the letter is waiting for attention upon resumption? Is it a political manoeuvring to get Davies to play the Adegbite game going forward to 2027?

Bishop Theophilus Taiwo Ajose came handy as always to shield Bishop STV Adegbite. He dropped in the public space a message on behalf of the CAN that should go to PFN Chairman to whom the Agency letter was addressed.

When I petitioned the CAN President regarding the unethical political activities of Adegbite, using his office as chairman of CAN in Lagos to campaign for APC. It was the intervention of Ajose that saved Adegbite. This time around, I am left wondering why his principal is outside Nigeria and he is in Lagos. Is he also a victim of Pentecostal persecution being supervised by the most powerful Christian Citizen in government as the Executive Secretary of the Christian Pilgrims Board against Pentecostals?

The letter from Lagos State newly invented Parking and persecution agency was dated 19th July 2024, it was probably written after the Jumat Service of that day, held in Mosques across the State many of which had no provision for a car park but who in superiority of religion took over roads of importance to the economy of Lagos as an extension of their mosques. They are not as timid as the Pentecostals who are parking in orderliness to allow other citizens passage. Most mosques in Lagos closed the road that day during their Jumat depriving other citizens passage, sometimes even pedestrians are forced to use alternative routes!

What is the sin of the Pentecostals? I leave my question to Bishop Adegbite to answer. But must remind his cohort and the CAN Chairman of Kaduna State that his advice that Christians shouldn’t join the protest #EndBadgoverment is being worked against by the Lagos State Government Agency; LASPA who seems determined to force Pentecostals out in protest. PFN should use today Sunday the 21st day of July to mobilise all Pentecostals churches in Lagos to be ready to take to the streets of Lagos in protest against this selective persecution come next Sunday the 28th day of July 2024. We don’t have to wait for the planned protest for August by others to protest this obvious persecution of injustice!

According to a Yoruba saying; “ojo ti a ba ri ibi, ni ibi ma wole”, meaning the day you notice evil is the day you must ensure it is buried. This evil crafted against the Pentecostals must not see the light of August.

The Agency’s letter was detailed as follows:

“LASPA/OPS/NOT/01/2024 The Chairman, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Lagos State Branch.

19th July, 2024.

NOTIFICATION OF LASPA’S ON – STREET PARKING SCHEME, KICKING OFF AT DESIGNATED STREETS IN LAGOS STATE BY OCTOBER, 2024.

As the subject refers.

2. I am directed to inform your revered organisation that Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA) will be commencing its On-Street Parking scheme at designated streets within the Lagos State metropolis.
3. In view of this, I am using this medium to inform your eminence, that vehicles parked on designated streets by the church and its members, will be charged hourly and indiscriminately parked vehicles will be enforced upon accordingly.
4. Consequently, we advise that this piece of information be adhered with as a law-abiding organization.
5. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Authority for further information. (Kindly call: 01-2275230, 01-227 52 31 for more enquires).

6. Thank you.

19/7/24
Ayokunle Akinrimisi,

Head, Operations.

For: General Manager”

Ajose a strategic officer of the PFN as the Director of Directorate of Politics and Governance was prompt as always on his beat as the SA to CAN Chairman to save his principal, he responded thus:

“Greetings Fellow PFN Leaders,
The State CAN is on top of the situation concerning the letter on Street Parking written to the State PFN by LASPA.
The State CAN Chairman, His Lordship, Bishop STV Adegbite (who is currently outside the country) has called for restraint, calm and decorum at this time.
I’ve been in meetings with the SA (Christian) to Mr. Governor, who has also contacted the leadership of the Agency and had fruitful conversation with them.
I made it known to them that this law and subsequent directives concerning parking by churches is not a PFN matter alone.
It was revealed that when this matter first came up, some PFN leaders went to meet with the leadership of the Agency to discuss the matter and that’s why PFN was written to in continuation of the previous discussions.
I made it known that if the Church in Lagos State has to be addressed, it should be through the State CAN so that we can have a holistic conversation, then CAN with all the blocs shall present a unified resolution.
Also, I proposed that if this regulation has to be enforced, SUNDAY must be left out of the narrative as this may cause religious and social issues.
Consequently, my candid advice is that PFN should allow the State CAN to handle this matter on behalf of the Church and that no PFN leader should make any overture to the Agency while the State CAN and the office of the Special Adviser (Christian) are engaging the Agency.
Thanks and God bless.
Shalom.
Bishop Ajose
Special Adviser (General Duties) to the State CAN Chairman and State Director, DPG, PFN LAGOS STATE.

To the Pentecostals:

You have enough on your plate and I will come to that when closing this epistle.

For now, it is unacceptable in administration to allow CAN to address the Agency of Government on a letter specifically written to PFN. If this is entrusted to Adegbite ‘s led CAN they do so at their own risk. This is nothing but a political rod of persecution to cow PFN and subjugate its leadership in their loading agenda for 2027.

On the politics of February 2025 within PFN for which I called the President and the National Executives to caution. I am not surprised at the reactions of many, one of them came from a woman of God I greatly respect, it reads:

I am disappointed!
May God show you the right path. This is so wrong”…

That was the closing line of the message she sent to me on Whatsapp.

She has more to say; “These articles you are reporting to non PFN members in Lagos is to what intent exactly??

Why are you doing this and for what purposes? This is unscriptural and you have the temerity to write accusations against the leaders that is not your jurisdiction. On whose authority and what authority are you doing this? Does your article pass the acid test of the scriptures? No it does not!!
Neither do you have jurisdiction to correct the national leaders. Because God does not react immediately to our wrong ways, does not mean He condones this kind of write up that is divisive, and malicious”!

There are several others like she, hitting hard at me because this time was the turn of their pentecostal idol. I wished I had the liberty of the Spirit to make available all that is at my disposal, she possibly would have called other women out wearing sack clothes in lamentations for our leaders who aren’t better off than their political counterparts who relishes themselves in the affliction of the people they are called to lead.

However, I will be content with giving a counsel which I hope they will take. PFN is an Association, a political platform of all Pentecostals. The constitutional right of expression that granted me the liberty to express my misgivings to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria also permits me to do the same to all leadership of bodies registered in Nigeria by the Corporate Affairs Commission. The church culture of touch not my anointed and do my prophet no harm is limited to the ancient theocratic state of Israel and not even in modern Israel are Prophets untouchable. If the President and Leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria have gotten used to my “rouble rousing” as someone flying the kite of constitutional reform recently described me, then the PFN President and leadership better be ready. February next year is the PFN national election and politics has started. If standing with the National Exco on the Lagos divide all the while was mistaken for political support, far be it! Political support must be solicited. I may not have a vote in the coming election but I no doubt have influence one way or the other with those who are eligible to vote in that election.

And with CAN working hand in hand with the APC government behind the curtain to take over PFN Lagos as a tool to impose leadership on the PFN which is what this new move is all about. Have I been wrong on APC till date? Just wait and see, it’s only a matter of time!

Dr. Bolaji O. Akinyemi is an Apostle and Nation Builder. He’s also President Voice of His Word Ministries and Convener Apostolic Round Table. BoT Chairman, Project Victory Call Initiative, AKA PVC Naija. He is a strategic Communicator and the C.E.O, Masterbuilder Communications.

Email:bolajiakinyemi66@gmail.com

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