Synagogue Church Members Battle T.B Joshua Over Planned Relocation To Israel

Posted on May 15, 2017

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

Nigerians who are members of Prophet T.B Joshua’s Synagogue Church of All Nations, Ikotun, Lagos are jolted and set to battle their spiritual leader over the reported planned relocation of the church to Israel.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the members are not happy about the development and have resolved to fight till Joshua change his mind.

Our investigations revealed that some of the aggrieved members have expressed their concern on the effect of such  relocation on both the spiritual and material needs of the members.

One of the members said apart from miracles and healings taking places in the church almost daily, Joshua also provide material needs to less privileged members of the church.

“Which relocation, we will not allow that to happen. If Israelis want blessings, or want to benefit from the man of  God they should come to Nigerian same way people go to Israel for pilgrimage,” one Synagogue member told P.M.EXPRESS.

Another member said the church has helped Nigeria in the area of religion tourism in terms of people coming to Nigeria to attend the church.

He also said Lagos where the church headquarters is located has benefited tremendously with both foreigners and people coming from various states to attend service which thus boost the economy of the State.

During the church service on Sunday April 30, 2017, Prophet Joshua first hinted and declared his intention to leave Nigeria and relocate his ministry to the Nation of Israel.

He disclosed that he had just returned from the ‘Holy Land’ after holding meetings with three prominent Israeli mayors of Jerusalem, Tiberias and the Jordan Valley.

Joshua said Israeli offered him both land and facilities in an area around the biblical site of the Sea of Galilee to organise meetings for international pilgrims.

“This is where my Father in Heaven came from – it’s non-negotiable…It’s the best place for you to meet Prophet T.B. Joshua. After your healing, blessing and deliverance, you can move around all the spiritual monuments which will establish your faith,” Joshua told his congregants.

He added that the decision to leave was not connected to the “persecution” he has endured in his course of ministry.

The popular clergy said the move would help people to “appreciate” what his ministry had been contributing to both the local economy and Nigeria’s international image.

“This is the most persecuted ministry in the world. Who are the people persecuting the ministry? My people, Africa,” he said.

“That is why I choose to live a lonely life. If you want to see me, come to this church. I don’t go out. It has not been easy – because I don’t know who is a friend or who is an enemy,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian government through the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has urged Prophet Joshua not to relocate to Israel as such move could have economic effect on the nation.

He urged him to bear with Nigeria because he is one of its citizens.

Also some stakeholders in the tourism sector on Sunday advised the Federal and Lagos State Governments to dissuade Prophet Joshua, from relocating the church headquarters to Israel from Nigeria.

They said Nigeria would lose billions of naira to religious tourism if Joshua and SCOAN should make the plan real.

 

Some heads of government from African countries had also visited SCOAN to seek spiritual restoration and advice from Pastor TB Joshua

Mrs Ime Udo, the General Secretary of the Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NANTA) told News Agency of Nigeria, NAN that Nigeria would lose billions of naira from religious tourism revenue if SCOAN actualised its planned relocation to Israel.

Udo said Joshua’s planned action would lead to a reduction in the human traffic of local and foreign religious tourists that normally patronised SCOAN.

Udo said, “Religious obligations have become a fashionable trend all over the world as a means of expressing beliefs and faith in the ability of God to protect and guide mankind.

“Religious practices both under the auspices of Christianity, Islam and traditional practices have in no small way contributed to the development of tourism in the world.

“Christian pilgrimages to Israel have formed an economic platform for the empowerment of the localities and contributed to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.

“Also, Saudi Arabia has been benefiting immensely economically from many Islamic faithful who converge there twice annually on holy pilgrimage.

“With these scenarios and many others around the world, it has become valid that religious tourism has become a source of economic revival to a country and its people, “she said.

According to her, thousands of foreign religious tourists visit SCOAN monthly to worship and for other spiritual healings.

She said that these tourists would fly into Nigeria; lodge in hotels, board commercial vehicles, patronise eateries and visit other tourists’ sites around the locality.

Udo said that all these had been translating into huge revenue for the Nigeria economy.

“The local community; hotel operators, food vendors and others around SCOAN must have benefitted from tourists.

“SCOAN has, no doubt, contributed immensely to the tourism profile of Nigeria with several heads of government from various African countries that had visited there to seek spiritual restoration and advise from Pastor TB Joshua, ” she said.

Udo advised the Federal and Lagos State Governments to encourage SCOAN to remain in Nigeria as part ways to develop our tourism sector.

A member of SCOAN, Mrs Iyabo Emmanuel, said that she was in church service when their General Overseer, Pastor TB Joshua, announced to the members on the offer given to him by the Israeli Mayors.

Mrs Emmanuel, popularly called “Iya’’( Mother) Synagogue, said that Pastor Joshua never said that he had  agreed to such a proposal from the mayors.

“I have been worshipping in SCOAN since 1994 when TB Joshua established it newly in Ikotun area.

“I worked with TB Joshua for 15 years before I resigned and ventured into selling of provisions. Then, I was the chef; head of canteen and bakery.

“I am still a full-time member of the church and I will continue to worship there. I am one of those that had benefitted from the church,” she said.

Emmanuel said that many residents and business owners would suffer if TB Joshua should relocate SCOAN from Ikotun.

She said that majority of business owners around the area depended solely on the visitors to the church and they used to patronise facilities around the church.

A hotel operator, Mrs Anthonia Chuks, told NAN that if the rumour that TB Joshua was relocating to Israel eventually turned to reality, the hospitality business in that area and the state would suffer and fold up.

“Ninety–five per cent of guests that lodge in hotels in the community are international and local visitors outside Lagos and they are SCOAN members.

“We have over 130 rooms and are always fully booked every weekend.

“We usually enjoy huge patronage from Fridays to Sundays weekly; and they are mostly SCOAN members from near and far,” she said.

Similarly, Mr Solomon Oyelade, a car-hire operator, said that since the rumour of the planned relocation of the church to Israel, the patronage of cabs had reduced drastically.

Oyelade said that in the past, he used to go to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos seven times in a day to transport international passengers down to SCOAN.

“But, since the incident of collapsed building in the church premises years back, the patronage of foreigners had reduced.

“With this present rumour of relocation, we hardly carry passengers from Airport two times a day. The patronage has reduced beyond expectations, “he said.

Also, Mr Uche Maduako, a food vendor, appealed to TB Joshua not to accept such offer from the Israeli mayors.

He said that behind every rumour there is an iota of truth.

He also urged the Federal and the Lagos State Governments to support the continuing stay of TB Joshua in the country.

“The government should make the country worth staying for him and ensure they support him in all ramifications,” he said.

Maduako urged the government to renovate the bad roads around the church, adding that the condition of the roads was not encouraging.

He said that the contributions and impacts of TB Joshua in that community could not be overemphasis.

“The man of God has contributed immensely to the betterment of the community; employed thousands of graduates and non-graduates to work in the church and in other investments of the church.

“TB Joshua always ensures that there is constant power supply and adequate security in the area,” he said.

Synagogue Church of All Nations established in 1994 does not have another branch in Nigeria outside its international headquarters located in Ikotun.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest News

BY DEBO ADESINA  The times are tough. It is therefore just appropriate that President... Continue
BY OLATUNJI OKE In a sector that has not always made space for women,... Continue
The Hon. Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has affirmed Federal Government’s commitment to gradually offset the debt owed Nigeria’s... Continue
Ms Oluremi Ebun-Phillips The Ikeja Special Offences Court has heard how the Economic and... Continue
President Bola Tinubu has joined the Christian faithful to commemorate Easter, a significant moment... Continue
MICHAEL AKINOLA  A 35-year old man, Tochukwu Onwuemene, has landed in trouble in Lagos... Continue
PIUS BABALEYE The DLK Event Centre on MKO Abiola Road in Abeokuta, Ogun State,... Continue
CHUKA UBAH  The leadership of the Southern Youth Foundation of Nigeria and the Orashi... Continue
BY TUNDE RAHMAN Today is President Bola Tinubu’s 72nd birthday. Instead of rolling out... Continue
MICHAEL AKINOLA      A 35-year old man, Joshua Ogabi, has been arrested and... Continue

UBA


Access Bank

Twitter

Sponsored