There have been recent talks about the RCCG City of David Pastor Iluyomade and wife’s birthday party celebration and the death of Herbert Wigwe, one of the strong members of the church, with several people pointing accusing fingers on the church heads and several questions being asked.
However, the glamorous 60th birthday celebration of Siju Iluyomade, wife of Pastor Idowu Iluyomade of the Redeem Church of God,(RCCG) City of David Parish had just about three weeks after the death of Herbert Wigwe, a strong member of the Church who died in an helicopter crash in the United States of America along with his wife, son and business associate Abimbola Ogunbanjo with the Pilots of the helicopter has generated so much controversy about how sensitivity the Church Pastor, his wife, to the plight of the Wigwe family, who were in mourning mood when such a lavish celebration was going on in their Church, which they devoted humongous part of their resources in building.
Feeling neglected, the Wigwe family however, excluded the Redeem Church of God, City of David parish from the five days burial activities organised for the late Group Chief Executive Officer of Access holdings, his son and wife all other activities were taken to a sister Assembly, Ressurection Parish Lekki, while other programs will be held at Eko Hotel,Victoria Island, Wigwe University, Isiokpo and RCCG Lion of Judah Parish, Isiokpo for the combined service of songs and funeral service.
Read Also: How Herbert Wigwe’s PA Escaped Helicopter Crash That Led To Death Of Access Bank CEO
The social media was flooded with stories that the Iluyomade were not sensitive to the plight of the Wigwe’s, because being a strong member of the parish the entire Church should have set some days aside to mourn Herbert, Wife and Son.
Being the church where Wigwe worshiped before his death, he was not only a worshipper, but a prominent member who donated millions of naira to the church during his lifetime.
So, not a few people expected the church to mourn him, for at least, a considerable period. But the RCCG authorities clearly had a different opinion, thus they rallied around the ‘birthday girl’ as she threw a colourful party, more or less a carnival, to celebrate her diamond anniversary.
Her loyalists and fans also quickly came to her defence claiming that the party was shifted thrice for some reason so it wouldn’t be good if she changed the date again for whatever reason.
This defence, nevertheless did not go down well with the family of the late banker as they have allegedly written a letter to RCCG, City of David, warning them to stay clear from the funeral of their son. The family frowned at the path toed by the pastor, his wife, and the church considering the amount of huge support, both morally and financially Wigwe contributed to the church in his lifetime.
Members of City of David Parish, saw the development as a nightmare that will soon pass away and are wary of passing comments on the development.
According to reports, the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye had written Pastor Iluyomade and his wife to resign as regional head of the family and hand it over to his son.
However, Pastor Iluyomade was reported to have replied to Adeboye’s letter that they won’t resign.
The couple were reported to have threatened to pull out of Redeem and rename it the Trinity Towers Building because the majority of the loan they took on it was done by an SPV.
Reports have it that the SPV is owned by them.
However, it was said that a lot of donations by the congregants were made to the building under the guise it’s Redeem Church project started by late Pastor Eskor Mfon.
Top Society decided to worship at the City of David parish last Sunday service held on the 3rd of March 2024.
Unarguably, the parish is one of the richest Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), in the country, but the controversy does not have a significant effect on the service, the Sunday service was just like any typical Sunday worship one can expect in RCCG church.
There was the feeling that the development could have some psychological effect on some members of the parish who may prefer to hold aloof for a while, because there was a little decline in the number of worshippers with many shiny yellow seats vacant.
At the last Sunday worship at the parish the church had a robust thanksgiving service, where prophetic dance offerings and praise were offered to God for the gift of life.
The parish also linked up with the church’s national headquarters, where Adeboye delivered a sermon, after which the wife of the pastor of the parish, Siju, prayed for the continuity of the City of David, despite the hovering darkness.
She also prayed for those who were grieving, asking that the strength of God abide with them.
The church Members were urged to attend the burial of the late Herbert Wigwe at the Parent parish in the Lekki area of the state.
Despite the glorious worship rendered to God, the atmosphere of the church became very tense when the burial rites of the Wigwe’s were being read to the congregation.
Some of the senior workers of the church however, refused to speak to Top Society, when their views were sought on what was going on in the Church and their position on the ongoing controversies.
However, a church worker who preferred anonymity said “the devil has been put to shame, and nothing they say or write about the church will bring down the church. We are one family here, and everything they say about this place is a lie.”
In addition, a member of the parish who identified herself as Precious said, ”I don’t think the family of the late Wigwe is angry or anything. They are just choosing what’s best for their late son. If they prefer to take the burial rites elsewhere, it has nothing to do with the controversies. If Wigwe’s wife were alive, she would have wanted it to be held here; maybe, but they are bothdead, and the family decide to choose what’s best for them.
Another member, Joshua Adewale, refused to discuss the controversy surrounding the late Wigwe’s death and the church, rather he said “I am a new member, i started worshiping here about eight months ago, and I have seen his pictures and heard he’s a good and strong member of the church
who offered to help and rescue the church whenever a need arises.”
Responding to the development, Rev Dr. Sam Ogedengbe, National President, All Christian Leaders/ Ministers’ Forum said “my Personal observation into this controversial issue that has to with the Redeem Church, i don’t want to comment on it, because an elderly man Pastor Enoch Adeboye is involved, i don’t want to comment on it at all.
On whether the Church can change its planned program if a strong member of the church dies before the schedule program, he said “Christianity is not about an individual, it is about God, it is about Jesus Christ, if the General Overseer of a church should die today, that does not mean the Church will be closed, the Church will be continued, the ministry will continue,the program will continue,” Dr.Ogedengbe said.
Spokesperson for Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Emmah Isong in reaction said “most of the reports read about Wigwe’s and the Iluyomade were read on social media, and in this case PFN cannot speak on it, it is only the redeemed spokesperson, that can comment on it.
“As it is now, it is a local problem not yet a body of Christ problem, by the time I or the President of PFN, Bishop Wole Oke respond on a local Church problem, it will offend the leadership of the Church involved, so i will not respond, i will give the Redeem that right to respond to it. It is after the Redeem as a Church has made comment about it, that PFN can come in.
Bishop Isong stressed, “If PFN should respond to the development,it will really affect them, they will feel offended on the information.”
As there are time and seasons for everything, what the RCGG city of David is going through now shall pass away, but what matters is, what is the effect of the development on the Christian body, he added.
