Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, is a man of reputation and credibility. These are two characteristics that he has built over several years, even before and while in ministry. During the time he was a lecturer, he was never accused of monetary corruption, nor was he accused of sexual scandal. These are often common developments among young lecturers in universities nowadays.
Moreover, for over 40 years in ministry, he has never been accused of sexual scandal or any form of corruption allegations that have been leveled against some popular Pentecostal pastors in Nigeria. Pastor Adeboye has built his reputation to such a degree that any allegation from anybody demands what we call “fact-checking.” While speaking the truth to power is Biblical, accepting or believing allegations that seem to damage a person’s good reputation is not Biblical. As the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 10:1, “Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: SO DOTH A LITTLE FOLLY HIM THAT IS IN REPUTATION FOR WISDOM AND HONOUR.”
In other words, a little misdeed can affect a person’s good reputation and credibility. From this, we understand that a small allegation, if left unchecked or unprobed, can damage a person’s good character.
My fact-check of the story told by Seun Kuti, which was later twisted by a Facebook blogger identified as Wahala TV By Ejiroghene, indicates that the allegation that Pastor Adeboye collected $250,000 to heal a woman brought to the Redeemed Camp is “preposterous.” Part of what the blogger wrote reads: “In a no-holds-barred revelation, Afrobeat firebrand has dropped a bombshell on Nigerian Christendom, accusing Pastor E.A Adeboye of collecting a whopping $250,000 from a desperate family under the guise of divine healing— only for the patient to die.”
The blogger reported that Seun Kuti said: “They brought the person back to Nigeria and took them to the Redemption Camp. They gave Pastor Adeboye $250,000 to heal the person. Pastor Adeboye said that the person would not die.”
However, analyzing the language used by the expresser in the video of the story that has since gone viral, it is clear that Kuti made mention of a whopping $250,000 that was spent in the name of bringing the sick person to the Redeemed Camp. He, nevertheless, wasn’t explicit about what the money was used for, or to whom it was given.
That being said, the lack of explicitness about the $250,000 has brewed more confusion, compounding the confusion on the ground regarding the matter. People have since been trying to know what the $250,000 was all about, since Kuti wasn’t clear. Analyzing his latter expressions, which he made in the Yoruba language, seems to suggest otherwise. But there can be subjective interpretations of that expression.
My fact-checking so far says that the claim that Pastor Adeboye collected $250,000 from that sick person’s family to heal him is preposterous because the claimant was not explicit about the “why” or the “purpose” of the money. It is believed that the $250,000 was for the expenses of bringing the sick person to the Redeemed Camp. This could include flight expenses, accommodation, and feeding.
In addition, there is no logical reason why Pastor Adeboye would collect such an amount to heal that sick person because his credibility and reputation suggest otherwise. My fact-checking does not seek to consider the story told by Kuti as lies, nor does it seek to glorify that allegation. Rather, it seeks to describe that report by that blogger as a bunch of fallacies put on the internet with intentions that suggest malicious.
In the meantime, we hope there comes clarity from both sides, so that the general public can know the truth of the matter.
