In the sacred journey of any church, moments of testing and truth reveal the hearts of men and the true servants of God. Celestial Church of Christ, founded on divine vision and guided by prophetic leadership has not been immune to crisis. Yet in the noise of confusion and conflict, voices of truth still rise. One such voice is that of Evangelist Okikilola Philip, a man who once echoed the narrative what he heard, but now re-echoes the urgent call for reconciliation, truth, and redemption.
Like many devoted members of Celestial Church of Christ, Evang. Okikilola Philip was initially swept up in the wave of misinformation that engulfed the church following a series of internal disputes. At the center of the controversy were damning allegations against the Registered Board of Trustees (BOT), the very body entrusted with the spiritual and administrative continuity of the Church.
It was alleged that the registered BOT sought to undermine and remove the Pastor, that they failed to care for his welfare, and that they were systematically reducing his spiritual authority. These claims, widely circulated through social media and amplified by bloggers and vocal members like Brother Sami, quickly took root in the hearts of the faithful. The narrative was gripping. The Church seemed divided. And even Evangelist Okikilola Philip with genuine concern, joined the chorus of condemnation.
But God is not the author of confusion and truth, like light, always finds its way through the cracks of darkness. A pivotal moment came on 10th January 2021, at a meeting held at the Presidential Library of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. There, with transparency and humility, the Registered BOT laid bare the truth, presenting receipts and documented evidence of their unwavering financial and moral support for the Pastor. Payments in millions of naira were revealed: for feeding, fuel, health care, salaries, international travel, and more.
Further validation came on 3rd March 2021, at CCC National Headquarters, Makoko, Lagos State where even deeper layers of accountability were displayed. These facts shattered the fragile illusion built on falsehood. In the years that followed, as facts prevailed and the dust settled, the eyes of many were opened. Evangelist Okikilola was one of them. With the courage of a true child of God, he publicly reversed his earlier stance, realigning himself with the truth and with those genuinely working for the unity and progress of the Church.
He recognized that the vilification of the BOT was not only unjust — it was a betrayal of the very vision of Pastor Founder, Rev. SBJ Oshoffa, whose dream of the Basilica at Imeko is now being realized through the tireless efforts of the same BOT. Today, Evang. Okikilola Philip stands not among those profiting from chaos, but among those weeping for peace. He commence the heart of re-echo the need for reconciliation, not for ego, not for position but for the survival and future of Celestial Church of Christ.
Unfortunately, not all have had the same awakening. There remains a clique, a powerful few who have made the crisis a profitable enterprise. These individuals, including Oluso Maradona intoxicated by influence and blinded by gain, now block every path to reconciliation, every door to peace, every cry for unity.
They silence voices like Evang Okikilola’s and sabotage the reinstatement of the only leadership structure proven to sustain the Church: the Registered BOT. This is no longer a matter of opinion. It is a matter of history, of truth, and of conscience.
To every faithful Celestial, to every seeker of truth: the time has come to rise in defence of the Church we love. Let us not betray those who have served in silence, who have sacrificed in secret, and who now suffer in shame for crimes they did not commit. Let the voice of reconciliation be louder than the whispers of manipulation. Let the truth we now know be the truth we now defend and the Church return to order, peace, and divine purpose under the guidance of a Board that has proven its faithfulness in word, deed, and vision.
May God restore His sanctuary.
