David Oyedepo, presiding bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, has reacted against the application of the Company and Allied Matters Acts (CAMA) in churches.
The clergyman believes that the move by the government is a clear indicator that it is jealous of the church’s prosperity.
On August 7, 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari signed CAMA into law.
Under the law, charity bodies and religious organisations will be regulated by the registrar-general of Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and a supervising minister.
Oyedepo said the essence of the directive defeats the sovereignty of the church, which he said the government has no power to appoint leaders over the churches.
“The church is God’s heritage on earth. Molest the wife of somebody and you will see the anger of that person. The church is the bride of Christ. You know how a strong man is when you tamper with his wife. The church is the body of Christ. We are under obligation to give warnings to wicked rulers so we could be free from their blood,” he said.
“The church works on the pattern delivered by God not the pattern of man. Government has no power to appoint people over churches. This is a secular nation. The church is the greatest asset of God in this country. Please be warned. Judgment is coming.
“The Lord says I have been still but now I will arise. Anybody that is in this deal is taking poison. This will never work. I am waiting for a day when anybody will appoint a trustee over this church… You can’t gag anybody. We own this country together.
“It is only in Africa that people who are over 80 years still run around to become president. I know that it is the prosperity of the church that is making them jealous. But I am going to live to see an army of many winners soar greater. In this church shall emerge one of the largest concentration of giants on earth.”
