By John Okeke
An American based Nigerian Bishop,Ugoeze Frank Uwakwe has come against Pastor David Ibiyomie of Salvation Ministries and ,Dr. Paul Enenche of Dunamis Church over what he called “using pulpit to settle scores”.
In a statement made available to The Authority , Bishop Ugoeze Frank Uwakwe said:
“My attention was drawn to certain videos of Pastor David Ibiyomie and Dr Paul Enenche who stood on their pulpits in their churches during church services and” cursed” a certain Daddy Freeze and said all manner of nasty things against him. I was told they did this because Daddy Freeze insulted their Father, Bishop David Oyedepo. I have personally watched the said video of Daddy Freeze. As a senior member of the clergy, I have these to say as:
“Incidentally, both Pastor Ibiyeomie and Dr Enenche are “sons” of Oyedepo but both should also know that the heavenly race is an individual race. Don’t keep defending a man and loss track of your own salvation. These things can be tricky. By the way, is Bishop David Oyedepo the truly the father of Pastor David Ibiyeomie and Dr Enenche? Why are they going by the name, Ibiyeomie or Enenche and not Oyedepo? You people should wake, Man is Man. Nobody is greater than the other before God, We are Mortals.
“The Pastors also fell into a trap. Why most of us are enraged by Ibiyeomie and Enenche’s reaction is because as seasoned Pastors a lot is expected from them with regards to exemplary lifestyles. But their outings in recent times have fallen short of glory,” he said.
“The pulpit is strictly to teach the word of God, pray for people and not to settle personal scoreses, political scoreses, show off or cursing any human being. Raining down curses wasn’t necessary. Assuming Daddy Freeze is a devil, what more damage can your curse do? Nothing! A devil can no longer be cursed because he is already cursed. So, these whole thing has turned to a bragadocious display of one’s might, connections, financial strength, political affiliation or material possessions. You could hear them say “I have this, I have done that”. This is very unchristian that is why as a bishop I decided not to be close to some of these egocentric and materialistic Preachers because of their arrogance, everything about them is all about bragging,” he said.
He continued,”They are quick to rain down curses and use the bible to justify it. By this behavior, they fall into the same league with professional witches and wizards.
The pastors are demi gods, their fellowers are armed with verbal arsenal to “demolish” their perceived enemies.
They blackmail you emotionally, intimidate you spiritually, frustrate you physically and isolate you socially whenever they are unable to stand your intellectual capacity to challenge their Theological fallacies because they don’t reason, they perpetually want to see you bend in obiseince to some questionable theology which they cannot defend in any intellectual debate. Ask them a question, they brand you a devil.
This is not the Christianity Dr.Luke wrote about in the Book of Acts. Where are the “Bereans”? Do we still have people who question doctrines as was done of old?
Pastors should avoid the error of tagging whoever disagrees with them as an agent of darkness. Cursing people for abusing you make you no different from a witch.
Going as far as using the pulpit to lie about the Paternity of Daddy Freeze, Calling a human being a mad dog, insulting the halfcasts, the Broadcasters and the Nation of Somalia is a sign of repobacy or apostacy. Anyone who sees nothing about these utterances is surely suffering from chronic insanity.
Pastor Ibiyomie and Dr Enenche erred in Faith, Ethics, law and leadership. I have tried to hold back or utterly refrain from making a statement on their public outburst on Daddy Freeze and the attended foray of unsalted words that has permeated the sane atmosphere of Zukerville by his followers.However for the sanctity of the faith, the burden of truth leadership and the need to lit the torch for would-be leaders, I dare to write.
That video of Pastor Ibiyeomie came off in bad taste and smell. I had to watch again with great caution to ensure it was not doctored or fabricated by mischief makers. For a second I thought it was not true, atlas the reverberation of “RIDE ON SIR” from the congregant murdered my Thomas.
He was angry, yes. But a man in the office of a Bishop, a leader of such influence over millions should have a hold over his spirit and temper.
A few analysis of the use of words by these Pastors might help you understand my position.
– He is a Bastard?
Whether in the spiritual, figurative or physical sense of the word, the use of the word ‘bastard’ is wrong. Spiritually, Daddy Freeze has God as his father. The Bible says God is the father of all human race. Biologically, Daddy freeze has a Nigerian father and a Romanian mother. Thus, how did he come by the term ‘bastard’ for someone who has parents. Or was it just an abused, as used on the streets? Should such words come from the mouth of a priest? This is a hate speech.
– Born by a Somalian?
I believe the gospel of Christ is for all men. I believe Somalia is a country in urgent need of Christ. But how do I take the gospel there, seeing that the Jesus of Nigeria denigrates the Somalian people. I wonder how Somalians would feel watching how derogatory the word “Somalian” was used. To be a Somalian must be curse, I muse aloud. Christ obviously did not die for them. Oh! Poor, cursed Somalians, Christ hates you. This must be the thoughts of the Somalian people right now.
The gospel of Christ is that of peace. Christian are called to be peacemakers. But how we preach this peace when we denigrate races?
– Ordinary Broadcaster, Is broadcasting a job?
I thought Journalism is a professional vocation? They are referred to the fourth estate of the realm I was told. But I guess with Pastor Ibiyeomie, it is some nonsense Job. People in that profession must be wastepipes.
I wonder how the media team of his church are treated. I think they must be lesser mortals to be preoccupied with beaming his teaching sessions on TV and YouTube.
To put it straight, Pastor Ibiyeomie demeaned the Journalism profession. The dignity of labor the Bible teaches was lost. I believe he is saying that, to be a kidnapper, prostitute or armed robber is better than being a broadcaster and that’s a so wrong an expression to sell to the fragile morality of the Nigerian youth.
– Is he married?
Sir, are you saying that being single or divorced is a cursed? Should we now be shaming all unmarried and divorce people in the church? Are we permitted to by extension Shame those who are married without children too?
Being single in Nigeria attracts a lot of toxicity. The unmarried people already can’t breathe and one should expect that the church should be a canopy for them to run for shade but it is evident that the church of Ibiyeomie abhors single people. Singles beware.
– I will tear him to pieces, I will kill him
“Thou shalt not kill”. Please has this portion left the new Bible?
Is killing now permitted in a civil society as Nigeria?
Are we now living in a survival of the fittest habitat?
Should a man of God be threatening to destroy a life Christ died for?
Is Pastor Ibiyeomie implying murder is now ok by all standards?
“I will destroy you”, “I will fall you”, “I will pieces you”….. Are words found amongst cultist, gangsters and streets men. Such words never should find a stage in a sacred scene. The use of such words by a clergy negates the peaceful coexistence the Bible teaches and destroys the blessedness for peacemakers as enthused in the beatitudes.
He is a “mad dog”,
Dr Paul Enenche called Daddy Freeze a Mad Dog
If he is a mad dog then ignore him. Don’t go down to his level. Nothing kills “criticism” like hear, see and ignore. It would die a natural death… Ask Pastor Chris Oyakilome or T B Joshua who have been the most persecuted and criticised Pastors in Nigeria.
I know there are several rationalising of the unrestrained utterance by these pastors. I’ve seen quite a lot on this space. Atimes I have had to pause to wonder and ponder if there are two kinds of Christianity. Apparently the Nigerian brand is different from the one in other climes.
A rudimentary lesson of leadership instructs that leaders should be very patient and calm. On one of Pastor Ibiyeomie books on leadership, he explained how leaders shouldn’t be rash in speech, how they should be patient with the people they are leading and how leaders should take nonsense. Now I am wondering if that his position was a copy and paste or it was borne out of experience.
As a young Christian, one of the first lessons I learnt in discipleship class was, when faced with a situation, I should ask myself this question; What would Christ have done?
In a bit to admonish Pastor Ibiyeomie and his followers, I pose the questions; Was that outburst really the best reply to Daddy Freeze? Is that how Christ would have handled it? After that speech was made, was Christ glorified?
Leaders lose the privilege of taking carelessly in public, the moment they take up the mantle of leadership. Pastor Ibiyeomie and Dr Enenche should know better.
The Christian faith is under attack and I think clerics are the ones leading the infantry battalion of these attacks. Their actions and speeches gives a window of weakness for the enemy to penetrate.
We are at this point because someone refused to walk in love. Now that Daddy Freeze has apologised, we are expecting the apologies of Dr Enenche and Pastor Ibiyomie. I believe Daddy Freeze’S attackers have fallen short of the love walk.
The easiest way to test your words or action is this; “What I am about to say or do, if the person is my brother or sister, father or mother would I still say it?”
If you can’t say it to your brother or father, sister or mother, don’t say it someone’s brother or sister… this is Loving your neighbour as yourself.
“It is time to go back to the Scripture, he is talking from Bible. You people should match him Scripture for Scripture and not “emotions for Scripture,” he added.
