Mercy JohnsonPresident Bola Tinubu’s appointment of Ola Olukoyede, a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor, as EFCC Chairman has elicited reactions from Nigerians.
Tinubu on Thursday, through a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, announced the appointment of Olukoyede to head the anti-graft agency.
After confirmation by the Senate, the new EFCC chairman is expected to serve for a term of four years.
RCCG has been facing backlash from lots of Nigerians, mostly through social media platforms, since the appointment was announced. The reactions were said to have been fueled by rumours, suggesting that the church has a biased support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Some netizens alleged that the appointment confirmed the rumoured bias of the church towards APC . An X user with the account name- @MissPearls stated: “Pastor Olukoyede, the lead pastor of the RCCG City of Refuge, Lagos is the new EFCC Chairman. Pastor Olukoyede, the lead pastor of the RCCG City of Refuge, Lagos is the new EFCC Chairman… It’s always RCCG, ALWAYS!”.
Another X user, with the account name- Toluwani (LP) also stated “ I hope all RCCG members who were delusional before will open their eyes now that their church is in full support of everything APC does. From corruption to Ethnic bigotry, to certificate forgery to identity theft.”
Despite these opposing views, some other Nigerians have responded to the backlash in defence of the church and its integrity. An X user with the account name- @NuesDaily responded in defence of the church having top pastors as political leaders under APC stating “It’s literally the biggest non-catholic church in Nigeria and, especially the southwest, so statistically this isn’t unusual”.
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The church has had records of top ministerial leaders holding political positions under the ruling party such as the former Vice president, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, a top Pastor of the RCCG who ran alongside former President Muhammadu Buhari under APC, and the current first lady of Nigeria, Mrs Remi Tinubu who is also an ordained Pastor in RCCG.
Whether the allegations against the church are true or not is yet to be confirmed.
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