THE leadership tussle rocking the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) worldwide has taken a new turn as the branches of the church in the northern states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on Wednesday reaffirmed that Pastor Paul Suru Maforikan remains the leader and the spiritual head of the church worldwide.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the northern states/FCT coordinator of the church, Superior Evangelist Raph A. Akinkunmi, denied the rumor that Pastor Maforikan had stepped down for the son of the late Rev. S.B.J. Oshoffa, Pastor Emmanuel Mobiyina Oshoffa, as the leader of the church. Superior Evangelist Akinkunmi declared that the speculation about Pastor Maforikan stepping down for Pastor Oshoffa as the head of the church was the handiwork of the enemies of the church and who would go to any lengths to cause disharmony within Celestial Church of Christ family worldwide.

He urged members of the 160 branches of the church in the North and the FCT, Abuja, to disregard the rumor as Pastor Maforikan had at no time agreed with any individual or group to step aside as the pastor and the spiritual leader of the Celestial Church of Christ worldwide. “Our members in the 160 branches of our church in the North and Abuja should disregard this dangerous rumor, Pastor Maforikan remains our pastor and leader of the church, he has not relinquished his position. The church must be one, our objective is that Celestial Church of Christ should be one and it should be under one leadership,” he said.

The cleric explained that what actually happened was that on March 31, this year, people of goodwill held a meeting in Port-Novo, the country home of the founder of the church, with Pastors Moforikan and Oshoffa in a bid to resolve the leadership crisis rocking the church. He said that at the meeting, both pastors agreed to embrace peace and that they were ready to do anything, including stepping aside or to have Pastor One and Two designations, if that would bring lasting peace to the church.

He added that the meeting also directed that all pending court cases on the church matter should be withdrawn immediately. He said that after the Port-Novo meeting, it was agreed that another meeting should be held two weeks after at Port-Novo for the final resolution of the leadership crisis.

According to him, based on this, a meeting was held in Lagos on Monday where it was agreed that 11 delegates each from both sides should attend the Port-Novo meeting in two weeks. He expressed surprise that before he could return to Abuja from the Lagos meeting, the rumor mongers had gone to town that Pastor Maforikan had agreed to step down.

He pleaded with church members to disregard the rumor, saying that the status quo would remain until after the Port-Novo meeting.

 2005 African Newspapers of Nigeria  -Today's News