The acquisition of private jets by Christian leaders diminishes
the moral voice of the church in the fight against corruption, the
Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, declared yesterday,
the Nation newspaper is reporting.
Mr. Kukah, according to the paper, spoke against the backdrop of the
presentation of a private jet to the National President of the Christian
Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, by members of his
church during the celebration of his 40th anniversary in the ministry
penultimate Saturday.
Bishop Kukah, who was guest speaker at the annual Founder’s Day
Anniversary lecture of Providence Baptist Church in Lagos, described
exhibition of such opulence by church leaders as embarrassing.
The fiery cleric who spoke on ‘Church and the state in the pursuit of
the common good’, said: “The stories of corrupt men and women being
given recognition by their churches or mosques as gallant sons and
daughters and the embarrassing stories of pastors displaying conspicuous
wealth as we hear from the purchases of private jets and so on clearly
diminish our moral voice.”
Mr. Kukah, who was represented by the Administrator of Holy Cross
Cathedral Lagos, Rev. Monsignor Pascal Nwaezeapu, also expressed
displeasure with the perceived closeness of the CAN leadership to the
corridors of powers.He said such alliance will weaken the ability of the church to speak the truth to elected public office holders.
According to him: “CAN has become more visible in relation to
national prayer sessions, pilgrimages, alliances with state power and so
on.“Unless we distance ourselves, we cannot speak the truth to power. We
cannot hear the wails of the poor and the weak. We should not be seen
as playing the praying wing of the party in power.”
He challenged the church to speak against corruption in low and high
places, saying such responsibility must never be jettisoned for any
reason.
Apart from Orisejafor, other church leaders who own private jets
include Founder of Living Faith Ministries, Bishop David Oyedepo;
General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor
Enoch Adeboye; Founder of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM),
Bishop Mike Okonkwo and Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy
Church.
Source: The Nation
