Private jet: Adeboye’s defence stirs debate on social networks
THE interview granted by the General
Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye,
to Qatar-based private broadcasting channel, Al Jazeera, stirred a heated debate on social networks on Sunday.
In the interview conducted by Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Adow, Adeboye justified his ownership of a private jet, saying it is necessary for efficiency in his assignment.
Adeboye is one of the increasing numbers
of Pentecostal pastors in Nigeria that have acquired private jets. Many
Nigerians have criticised these pastors arguing that they are being
insensitive to the poverty among their members.
But Adeboye while fielding questions from Adow, said acquiring a private jet was a necessity for him.
“There are things you need, which you
must have if you are to be efficient. If you have to oversee churches in
160 nations, you can’t do that on a bicycle,” Adeboye said.
However, Adeboye’s justification for his
ownership of a private jet has divided Nigerians on various social
networks as some shared his opinion while many opposed him.
A member of a popular online forum, nairaland.com, Onyianyi,
argues that it was wrong for Adeboye to own a private jet when the
majority of his members live below the poverty line and wallow in abject
poverty.
He says, “I’m not a member of any of
these Pentecostal churches but Adeboye is one pastor I respect so much.
This time around he got it wrong, there’s no reason for a man of God
with millions of impoverished followers to be cruising in a private jet.
“After all, are they more committed in
this ministry than Jesus Christ? Our Lord Jesus never used a private
boat or a private camel during his time. Yet he could easily command one
to his usage. Christ, though very rich, chose to live a poor life so
that his message can easily get across to the poor.”
Apparently replying Adeboye on his
explanation that he cannot oversee his churches in 160 countries of the
world using a bicycle, a member of the forum, Olumide, says Adeboye
could simply connect his subordinate pastors manning the churches
overseas via video-conference.
“As if he (Adeboye) doesn’t have the
money to video-chat with the pastors of the branches of the church! At
least, that would save him money,” Olumide notes.
Commenting on punchng.com, a reader, Zoemed, says Pastor Adeboye’s defence was not good enough.
Zoemed explains, “I had expected a
better defence rather than this ‘I need a plane to do a better job of
supervising churches under my ministry’! What are the roles of Subordinate pastors? The
Catholic Archdiocese of New York alone could buy many jets for the Pope
but they spend most of their money on helping the poor, providing
hospital care and welfare for the downtrodden.
“Our Pentecostal churches cannot even build hospitals and affordable schools to supplement the little we have.”
Rising in defence of Adeboye, a visitor to punchng.com, Adeola,
says the pastor’s acquisition of a jet was necessary, given the erratic
services provided by airlines in the Nigerian aviation industry. She
notes that flight delays and cancellations were a setback to Christian
ministry, adding that the work of a pastor was more tasking than that
of a nation’s President.
She says, “For a man to visit 160
countries in a year is never a joke. Why shouldn’t he have a jet if his
church can provide it? You and I know how ‘sound’ our aviation industry
is. For a minister of God who is billed to preach in a particular place
with other programmes following to have a flight delay or outright
cancellation without prior notification, is a loss that cannot be
quantified.
“Holding of crusade is different from
political gathering, which many of you understand better. The mandate
given to these ministers is urgent, the time is short and it covers the
entire world. This is more than that of the President. Leave them alone
as they will give account of their stewardship to God.”
Reacting sharply to the critics of Adeboye, Genes Donald, also states on nairaland.com, that Pastors must not live in penury all in the name of propagating God’s word.
“I go with you sir (Adeboye). These
people think we should ride bicycle, just to propagate God’s word? Who
says pastors must be paupers? Some people just reason from the anus!
Ride on Pastor,” Donald says.
On punchng.com, Macsam states,
“Having a jet is not bad for the RCCG, and it doesn’t mean that they are
not doing charity work. For instance. I have benefited from RCCG
scholarship.
“I didn’t know any pastor I just
obtained the form and went for the interview. I went to my village for
something; I just got a call that I was selected. They pay me N250,000
every session and they do it for so many students every year. So stop
condemning RCCG for acquiring a jet, it is for efficiency.”
Culled from The Punch
