Crusade crisis: Lagos pastor fights dirty with CAN, PFN

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Reverend Yinka Yusuf, the lead pastor of a Lagos-based church, Household of Love Churches, alleged that he was forced to cancel a one-million-man crusade by the two associations despite investing millions of naira in transporting equipment to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the planned venue of the event.

While apologising to the 5,000 evangelists he claimed were heading to Nigeria from the United States of America, United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, Namibia, he said the Christian bodies also compelled the Akwa Ibom State Government to withdraw approval for the use of a venue he already paid for.

But the Akwa Ibom State Government, in a rebuttal, accused Yusuf of hate speech, threatening to take legal action against him and demanding proof of the invitees.

The allegations are coming barely two months after the President of the Word Assembly Ministries, Rev. Isaac Omolehin, also accused PFN of hypocrisy and hostility.

The issues

The Christian Association of Nigeria is the umbrella body representing the interests of all denominations in Nigeria — Catholic, Protestant, Anglican and other blocs.

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, on the other hand, is a specialised umbrella organisation representing Pentecostal and Charismatic churches across the country.

Yusuf, while announcing the cancellation of the ‘Uyo One Million Crusade’ in a Facebook post on Friday, said it was regrettable that the crusade, scheduled for February 9 to 15, would no longer hold.

He alleged that CAN and PFN insisted he reschedule the seven-day programme because of another event featuring a Kenyan prophet.

Yusuf said the Kenyan prophet crusade was not on the same days as his, questioning CAN and PFN’s insistence that his event be shifted.