The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Living Faith Church Worldwide and the Deeper Christian Life Ministry have reacted to allegations that former President Olusegun Obasanjo allocated oil wells to some prominent Nigerian Christian leaders.
The churches were responding to claims made by the founder and President of the Ministers’ Prayer Network, Reverend Mosy Madugba, who alleged that Obasanjo gave oil wells to influential pastors, including RCCG General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye; Living Faith Church founder, Bishop David Oyedepo; and Deeper Christian Life Ministry General Superintendent, Pastor William Kumuyi.
However, representatives of the religious organisations have challenged the allegation, with some describing it as false and questioning the circumstances surrounding the purported allocation.
A senior media aide to Pastor Kumuyi, who spoke to Punch, dismissed the allegation, insisting that the renowned cleric had no interest in oil exploration or related business activities.
The aide maintained that Kumuyi’s commitment remained centred on preaching the gospel, evangelism and winning souls rather than engaging in commercial ventures.
He questioned why the pastor would be linked to an oil well, describing the allegation as ridiculous.
“Let us be frank, does Pastor Kumuyi look like somebody that will be interested in an oil well? Does he look like someone who would toy with such things? Pastor Kumuyi is devoted to the core; he is devoted to the work of God that he is being called into,” he said.
The aide further explained that the ministry’s priorities were focused on spiritual activities and preparing people for eternal life.
“So, the fact that somebody mentioned somewhere that Obasanjo gave him an oil well is ridiculous; we don’t get involved in those things. Our focus is the gospel, how to win souls for the kingdom of God and prepare for heaven; therefore, this is not the kind of thing that he would get involved in,” he added.
Oyedepo’s Church Questions Obasanjo Oil Wells Claim
Similarly, the Director of Media at Living Faith Church Worldwide, Patrick Nkamiang, rejected the suggestion that Obasanjo personally distributed oil wells to religious leaders.
Nkamiang argued that petroleum resources are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and are not the personal possessions of the President to allocate at will.
He also questioned the value and circumstances of the alleged oil well allocations, insisting that the claim required proper examination.
“Oil wells are not that cheap to give away, nor are they the personal property of the President that he can just give to anybody,” he said.
He further argued that even during Obasanjo’s administration, oil wells remained part of the country’s regulated natural resources rather than personal gifts belonging to the nation’s leader.
“Even if oil wells were that cheap as of the time that he said that they were giving out oil wells, what’s the value of an oil well then? Oil wells do not even belong to Obasanjo, for him to be sharing? They are natural resources that are governed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria. You cannot just give them away as you like,” Nkamiang stated.
Living Faith Church Speaks On Oyedepo’s Position
Nkamiang also disclosed that Bishop Oyedepo maintained a zero-tolerance position towards gifts and donations that could not be traced to legitimate personal earnings or internally generated income.
According to him, the church would not consider taking legal action against Madugba over the allegation.
Instead, he said the ministry would leave the matter to God rather than pursue a legal confrontation.
RCCG Demands Evidence Over Oil Wells Allegation
Meanwhile, an official in the media unit of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the church would not issue a substantive response to the allegation until Madugba provided evidence to support his claims.
The official’s position suggests that the RCCG wants the individual making the allegation to substantiate it before the church takes a further position.
The controversy has drawn attention to the claims involving some of Nigeria’s most influential Christian leaders and the country’s petroleum resources.
However, the church representatives who spoke have either denied the allegation or challenged its credibility, while the claim remains to be substantiated with publicly presented evidence.
