By Wilson Adekumola
The leadership of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria in Lagos State has dispelled allegations of tenure extension and misappropriation of fund brought against it by the Pentecostal Association of Nigeria and Diaspora.
PAND led by one Apostle James Jesulere, had in a publication on June 26, made sundry allegations against the PFN
In the said article, Jesulere alleged the LFN leadership of tenure elongation, biases, as well as ethnic and tribal bigotry.
He said the Chairman of the Fellowship, Apostle Eyinnaya Okwuonu, had stayed beyond eight years in office. He also accused him of financial impropriety.
Meanwhile, a statement by the Publicity Secretary of the Lagos PFN, Apostle Tonye Oliver, debunked the allegations, describing it as an ‘attempt to drag the fellowship into the dark and murky waters of ethnicity and bigotry which, unfortunately, has been the character of politics in the not too distant past’.
According to the statement, “We will not descend to the depths which the writers of this article have descended in their ungodly and demonic attempts to foist upon us this great evil of bigotry. Neither will we descend to responding to outright lies, quotes and statements cooked up in the minds of evil people. However it is important to address the issues of facts as they by themselves expose the lies that this article represents.
“Apostle Enyinnaya Okwuonu became the Chairman of the Chapter following the unfortunate demise of our beloved Bishop Sola Ore two years into his second tenure. As Vice Chairman, he completed Bishop Ore’s tenure which lapsed in 2022.
“In other words, Apostle Okwuonu has only served two years as State Chairman and not eight years as falsely claimed by this fictitious Bishop. By this, Apostle Okwuonu is very well qualified to serve for at least another four years if it pleases the national leadership to appoint him.
“This singular fact upturns the foundation upon which the lies in that article are built. It is obvious that the architects of this article are neither believers in Christ Jesus nor members of the fellowship, for they do not understand that in Christ Jesus we do not pander to ethnic, social or gender divides, and that as a fellowship, we have well laid out constitutional principles and traditions that guide how our leaders are called into service.
“It is pertinent to state that the building project, including the funding, is handled by an independent Committee headed by the Deeper Christian Life Bible Church Lead Architect, who is the primary financiers of the building project. PFN has no hand in the disbursement of the fund. A simple enquiry will confirm this.
“We call on all leaders and members of the Church in Lagos to refuse to be corrupted by the sentiments expressed in the publication, to hold on to the truth of the Word and walk in harmony and love as commanded by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
