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| Some of the the protesters |
Amid allegations of rape levelled against its Senior Pastor, Biodun Fatoyinbo, the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly has declared seven days of fasting starting from Monday.
This comes as protesters have vowed to continue to demand for justice following allegations by Busola Dakolo, wife of popular Musician, Timi Dakolo, that Fatoyinbo raped her 20 years ago.
Addressing congregants on Sunday, Fatoyinbo said the yearly special programme titled, โSeven Days of Gloryโ, which usually takes place from July 1 to July 7, had been suspended.
The programme has in the past attracted international preachers like Creflo Dollar and Bishop T.D Jakes.
However, Fatoyinbo, who claimed to be speaking under the instruction of God, said the programme had to be cancelled because he did not want the invited preachers to go through the embarrassment of being heckled by protesters.
Fatoyinbo added, โWe will have prayers for those who are interested in coming but we are not going to have the seven days of glory. It has been suspended because I donโt want all those kind of stuff.
โSo, if you want to pray, come but the regular seven days of prayer, having preachers, come in, you donโt want to put your guest speakers through that. We love to host people properly.โ
His speech was greeted with chants of โWe love you pastorโ from worshippers.
In a prayer that ensued, he added, โAs we start our fasting, even though we are not doing the seven days of glory (programme) as we usually do, those of you who are led to come and pray here, as you come, the Lord will lift you up.โ
Shortly after Fatoyiboโs speech, his wife, Modele, attested to the integrity of her husband, insisting that he was not a rapist.
Mrs. Fatoyinbo said, โNot even as an unbeliever would my husband rape someone. Hello, let me talk, please, not even as an unbeliever.โ
However, her husband quickly grabbed the microphone from her, saying, โThe elders are stepping into it, please let them handle it.โ
Earlier, the church, which usually begins its sermon at 10am, held a session of testimonies by female members, apparently with the aim of rubbishing allegations that Fatoyinbo was a rapist.
About seven women came out one after the other to share their โCOZA Experienceโ.
The women all claimed their lives had hit rock bottom but God used Fatoyinbo to save them from destruction.
While Fatoyinbo was being eulogised inside the church auditorium, he was being heckled by protesters outside.
The protesters, mainly women, demanded justice and asked for the pastor to step down.
The #ChurchToo Movement, a group of at least 126 civil society organisations and individuals, which organised the protest, marched to the church premises around 9.30am clad in white t-shirts and holding placards that read โWe are watching you,โ โYour pastor is not your God,โ โThou shall not rapeโ and โNo to sexual abuse in my church,โ among others.
At the scene of the protest, COZA protocol officers formed a barricade against the protesters as officers of the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps accosted protesters and journalists who tried to intercept the barricade.
A convener of #ChurchToo, Bukky Shonibare, said, โWe demand that the board and leadership of COZA commence investigation into the allegation of rape levelled by Busola Dakolo and any other member of the church against its lead pastor, Biodun Fatoyinbo.
โWhile the investigation is being carried out, Pastor Fatoyinbo must be asked to step down from any leadership role in the church to avoid partiality.
โThe Christian Association of Nigeria, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and other relevant Christian bodies must show leadership by condemning these crimes coming from the church, while ensuring relevant actions are taken. The continuous harassment and intimidation of Busola and Timi Dakolo, and other victims must stop forthwith.โ
