Bishop David Oyedepo, the General Overseer of Living Faith Church has under fire for holding Sunday service at the church’s headquarters in Ota, Ogun State despite government’s directive against large public gathering.
Ogun state government had on March 19 banned gathering of more than 50 persons in order to curb Coronavirus spread.
PRESS STATEMENT:
COVID-19; Ogun Extends Ban to Schools, Worship centres
Due to the global spread of the Corona virus and the recent ban of all high-density gatherings in Ogun State, the @OGSGofficial wishes to clarify that the ban on high-density gatherings affects all pic.twitter.com/770X54MtBs
— Ogun State Government – OGSG (@OGSGofficial) March 19, 2020
Living Faith church, however, snubbed the directive by going ahead to hold its service which had hundreds of worshippers in attendance.
The cleric during the service said;
The coronavirus cannot stop God’s children. Only the help of God can save Nigeria and Africa from this Pandemic.
Oyedepo also assured his members that the cure of the deadly virus will be out this week and nations shall rejoice again.
Twitter users have however reacted, some criticizing him and others applauding the faith of Pastor Oyedepo, despite government’s directive.
See some reactions below;
JUST SO YOU KNOW:
Right now, Nigeria just confirmed 4 new cases. The total cases is now 26 “officially”. Nobody knows what unofficial figures are.Right now, CanaanLand is running a full church service in their auditorium. Thousands of people present.
We are A VERY MAD COUNTRY.
— #OurFavOnlineDoc 🛂 (@DrOlufunmilayo) March 22, 2020
Here are clips from the service.
Full complete normal service.It is absolute insanity.
An absolute disgrace and a shame how far these people are willing to go to risk the lives of their church members just for money. Money they can transfer to you from home.
Total Madness. pic.twitter.com/NsYN7R7w3Z
— #OurFavOnlineDoc 🛂 (@DrOlufunmilayo) March 22, 2020
Y’all Bashing these churches doesn’t make any sense. The government as a body isn’t doing much to prevent the spread of this virus 🦠, by allowing flights from high risk countries is already L to us. Shutting down social gatherings to avoid the spread of
— Chyca Francis (@cloud_jets) March 22, 2020
Oyedepo can’t live without tithes and offering. His greed has no cure. It’s time he’s made to face the music
— Major general Chinedu (@tony_divine81) March 22, 2020
Bishop Oyedepo is very wrong to say that shutting the church is like shutting the hospital. That’s a lie coined to deceive his congregation.
I can pray at home, or anywhere else, it’s not same like the hospital where you must be to get healing!
I pity the ppl that believe him
— Sohnwa (@AsaAlor) March 22, 2020
So unfortunate that Dunamics Church Abuja and Winners Chapel of Oyedepo will open their auditorium to hold SUNDAY Services today. If there is any infection, Oyedepo and Enenche will not CARE about you . Let us take a step to convince our people about d reality of CORONAVIRUS
— Woye (@woye1) March 22, 2020
Bishop Oyedepo did the RIGHT thing, God is not a man of Sickness and disease, Winners Chapel and other churches that hosted their services today are not wrong…STOP CRITICIZING AND PRAY FOR YOUR NATION!!! Do you want to carry fear into the presence of God? Some of you are wrong
— Wisdom Obi Peter ™ (@wisdompetertm) March 22, 2020
If Ogun state Government has placed a ban on public gatherings and what happened at Winners Chapel in Canaan land still happened, then Bishop Oyedepo should face the complete wrath of the law.
You are not above the law sir, that’s a terrible thing to do. Haha!
— Ayo FBI (@PureMinD__) March 22, 2020
Pastor Adeboye did NOT hold any services at the Redemption Camp.
Olukoya did NOT hold any services at Prayer City.
But Oyedepo held multiple services at Canaanland and even arrogantly attacked govt for closing schools.
Govt MUST act now. Lives are at risk.#ShutDownCanaanland
— #OurFavOnlineDoc 🛂 (@DrOlufunmilayo) March 22, 2020
Ogun State Goverment actually posted this three days ago. Pastor Oyedepo has flouted basic and very simple instructions from the government. CAN is not above a State Goverment, so that is not a good excuse. This is not what the bible teaches. We should lead by example. https://t.co/9IH543gEqV
— Dr. Dípò Awójídé (@OgbeniDipo) March 22, 2020
Oyedepo locked his Church in AMERICA but defies order in NIGERIA. This is HYPOCRISY, it is satanic!
It is worrisome!
— Ayekooto (@DeeOneAyekooto) March 22, 2020
“Honor thy father and thy mother”
This is taught in almost all Christian homes,all African homes.
Thy father and mother in the context doesn’t mean your biological parents but those who are placed above you.
I think Oyedepo did what he did because he doesn’t preach respect.
— BENUEGIANT🦍 (Twita finest) (@one_dosh) March 22, 2020
We have a Pentecostal Cultism problem in Nigeria
Today is the Day I realized some people will eat charcoal if Thier cult leaders tell them too
Oyedepo has blood on his hands for ignoring Common sense.
We ignored an actual Cult problem on Sundays and see the results..
— William Ukpe (@William_Ukpe) March 22, 2020
Even my own church Winners chapel ooo. I’m so so extremely disappointed in OYEDEPO. I have never criticized him for 17 years of been a Winner but today he fucked up. He closed his church in America but because we don’t have a fucking functional government he opened the church
— Gideon adaji (@adaji100) March 22, 2020
Canaan land that can take thousands. Irresponsible from Pastor Oyedepo
— Ayobami (@dondekojo) March 22, 2020
Oyedepo’s Canaan land & his Winners Chapel #Covidiots are holding mass gatherings & risking lives in d midst of a worldwide pandemic.
Govt needs to rise up & do its job of protecting lives frm these greedy “gods of men”.
d Sheeple can still give their offerings online, dude. 😩 pic.twitter.com/G8ehBMb74Q— da paladin (@makedemhear) March 22, 2020
I’m most dissapointed in Oyedepo and winners as a whole sha. You know you have arguably the largest congregation in the country, you still go ahead to hold services in mass. One Infected person steps into any of those services and Covid 19 spreads far beyond ctrl in the country. pic.twitter.com/57ogFRhTdU
— Neymar X Haaland (@BagOfNuts_) March 22, 2020
The same David olaniyi oyedepo whose holy anointing oil couldn’t heal his wife is praying against the spirit of COVID-19.
OYEDEPO DAVID SHOULD BE ARRESTED FOR WORKING AGAINST PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY.
PS: Mrs Oyedepo was treated medically in a South African Hospital by Doctors. pic.twitter.com/WGrtvfHLj9— ENZO UZOR (@enzo_uzor) March 22, 2020
Nigerians will lead themselves into temptation,afterwards they will start chanting deliver us from all evil.
You know, i can’t understand any reason behind the Sunday service conducted by Oyedepo today,
You are a winners chapel member & you joined in dragging Coza.Look at you😒
— Oloye Ayo Gbadebo (@holudaray) March 22, 2020
Let us hope our case in Nigeria won’t get worse than Italy with our disobedience,Guess what, we don’t have good health facilities as this country.😢
Why is it so difficult for Nigerians to adhere to simple orders
What is that nonsense Oyedepo of winners chapel performed today?
— Oloye Ayo Gbadebo (@holudaray) March 22, 2020
So Covenant University is insisting that students should resume on Sunday even after FG said schools should be closed for now. Hmmmm, now Bishop Oyedepo will say Buhari’ s government is wicked. issokay pic.twitter.com/av9ba6ncia
— Adebola Babatunde (@Adebolababatun) March 20, 2020
You feel we don’t want you to worship God, what’s our own. Some of you will eventually contact the virus through your pastor and spread it to people who shunned gatherings.
Same Oyedepo has 2 Universities where they teach sense and values. You can’t give what you don’t have.
🤡
— Lola Okunrin (@lollypeezle) March 22, 2020
