The Ogun State Government has demolished a church building owned by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG.
The
RCCG is one of Nigeria’s largest Pentecostal churches and its head,
Enoch Adeboye, is one of the country’s most revered men. Nigeria’s Vice
President, Yemi Osinbajo, is also a pastor of the church.
The
demolished building is located inside the estate, Obasanjo Hilltop,
named after ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo by the state government; and
located along the Presidential Boulevard, Abeokuta, the state capital.
The
construction of the church, headed by a former lawmaker in Ogun State,
Remmy Hazzan, started in 2013, and was being roofed when the government
rolled out caterpillars on Friday to pull it down.
PREMIUM TIMES
learnt that the church leadership was meant to commence use of the
ground floor for church activities on November 8 prior to the building’s
completion.
On Friday, as the state government demolished the
building, workers at the site and church members burst into tears, with
some shouting “Jesus, Jesus, this is your house,” “Lord where is your
face.”
It was learnt that the state governor, Ibikunle Amosun,
insisted the building be pulled down, arguing that the structure
violated the residential master plan of the estate.
When contacted, the Ogun State Commissioner for Special Duties, Leke Adewolu, said he was not aware of the demolition.
However,
Governor Amosun’s Special Adviser on Media, Adejuwon Soyinka, said the
demolition was carried out because the church building was not approved.
“I
am told that the church has no title documents nor approval,” Mr.
Soyinka said. “The estate is strictly residential, and the building has
defeated the approved design plan. And let me quickly add, nothing is
political about the action.”
The Commissioner for Urban and
Regional Planning ,Adebola Adeife, did not respond to phone calls or
text message sent to him by our correspondent.
Officials of the RCCG
also declined public statements although one of the top officials of the
church in Ogun said Mr. Adeboye had asked everyone to stay quiet on the
issue.