The Presiding Bishop of the Sword of the Spirit Ministry, Pastor Francis Wale Oke has called on the Federal Government to expunge in totality, the edit of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN) which recommends the retirement of leaders of religious organisations after 20 years.
Oke who commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his quick action towards stopping the impending crisis by sacking the director of the council and reconstituting the board, declared that the edit was targeted at Islamising the country.
He urged the government to face its duties in providing the needed social amenities for the people instead of dabbling into religious matters.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the cleric who maintained that government though can regulate the finances of the church urged it not to dabble or interference in the tenure, activities or internal arrangements of the church.
He said, “The edit should be repealed, there is a separation between the church and the government, yet the government can regulate their finances but not to interfere on the tenure of the leaders of the church. The edit should not just be suspended but be expunged totally.
“Even in the UK, the government regulates the finances but not regulate the tenure and internal arrangement, the internal arrangement should be governed by the constitutions of those religious houses. The constitution separate the religious bodies from the government.
“I commend the President, Muhammadu Buhari for swinging into action. To show how volatile the edit was, the President moved to quince the matter. The director has been sacked and a new board has been constituted”.
While lamenting the state of the roads, increasing rate of unemployment, insecurity and other problems in the country, the cleric said the General Overseer of the Redeem Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye who it has been rumoured has retired has not retireD nor stepped aside. I spoke with him one-on-one, he has not retired. He will retire when the time comes.
Oke said the church has its own internal laws and arrangement to decide on the tenure of their leaders.
“Let the government leave the church alone, Pastor Adeboye has not stepped aside, let the government not meddle with matters that are not theirs, let the government stay clear, it is a battle that can never be won.
“I commend President Buhari for dealing decisively not to allow the matter to degenerate into crisis. President Buhari as a person has a tremendous respect for the church, but we want everybody be it in the judiciary, legislative or executive to know that, “Don’t play with the church”.
Oke who was with the Overseer of Calvary Bible Church, Pastor Olumide Emmanuel, Presiding Pastor of World Ablaze Missions International Pastor Albert Oluwole and other clerics had earlier commended the President for the success in the battle against corruption and Boko Haram menace.
He said, ” 2016 was very challenging, it was a year of official recession. The battle against corruption was intensified and the Boko Haram war was successful. But I want to tell the President not to relent on the battle against Boko Haram. It is not yet over until government defeats Shekau who is the leader of the group and until all the girls are found.”
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