The passing of the Pastor Founder, SBJ Oshoffa on the of 10th September 1985 marked not just the end of a remarkable spiritual era, but also the beginning of deep-rooted challenges within the Church. What should have been a period of consolidation and spiritual continuity gradually gave way to division, as conflicting interests and personal ambitions began to shape the direction of the Church.
In the years that followed, the sacred focus on evangelism and salvation, once the very foundation of the Church was increasingly overshadowed by struggles for influence, recognition, and control. Rather than building on the legacy of unity and holiness, certain actors pursued agendas that prioritized followership and popularity over spiritual growth and doctrinal purity.
By 1987, the word “UNIFICATION” had already entered the Church’s vocabulary, not as a celebration of oneness, but as a response to the first major division. The emergence of Rev Pastor Alexander Abiodun Bada was met with resistance, particularly from members in the Benin Republic, who expressed discomfort with the leadership transition. What followed was a prolonged internal crisis that defied resolution despite numerous meetings, negotiations, and consultations.
As the crisis deepened, fragmentation became more pronounced. The unity of the Church gave way to a troubling reality where authority was no longer centralized, and individuals across dioceses began to assume pastoral titles independently. This erosion of structure created an environment where division was not only visible but institutionalized. In response, another unification effort emerged, this time facilitated at the highest political level by the President of the Benin Republic, Patrice Talon. The initiative, though ambitious, quickly became a subject of controversy. Questions were raised about the true intentions behind it, as key figures such as Rev Pastor Emmanuel Mobiyina Friday Oshoffa and Rev Pastor Adeogun were believed to have entered the process with differing expectations and underlying agendas.
The scale of the effort was unprecedented—millions were reportedly spent to mobilize members to Benin Republic, with provisions ranging from luxury accommodations to financial incentives for influential stakeholders. The objective was clear: to reconcile all factions and restore the Church as one united body. However, the execution exposed deeper fractures.
A critical oversight soon became evident. The Nigerian faction failed to adequately inform President Patrice Talon about the existence of another significant bloc within Nigeria, currently led by Rev Pastor Adekunle Lawal. This omission not only undermined the credibility of the process but also highlighted the lack of internal cohesion among those advocating for unity. The situation deteriorated further when council members aligned with Rev Pastor Emmanuel Mobiyina Friday Oshoffa publicly withdrew from the unification process. Figures such as VSE Tosho Oshoffa, AMSE Kuti, and MSE Ajao, who had initially shown willingness to participate, made a sudden reversal. Their decision was met with resistance within the council, especially as it came before any official position was communicated by their principal leader.
More recently, a meeting held in France further exposed the fragile state of the unification agenda. Indications from that gathering pointed to a lack of readiness on the part of Rev Pastor Emmanuel Mobiyina Friday Oshoffa to commit to a unified accord alongside Rev Pastor Adeogun. Reports that the Head of the France Diocese was instructed not to attend, coupled with resignation letters from members of the Nigerian delegation, only reinforced perceptions of a divided leadership lacking a common vision.
What emerges from this long and complex history is a sobering reality: the pursuit of unification, from its very inception, has been burdened by mistrust, miscommunication, and misaligned intentions. Rather than serving as a genuine effort to heal divisions, it has often mirrored the very conflicts it seeks to resolve.
Until there is a sincere return to the foundational principles of humility, truth, and spiritual accountability, the call for unification may continue to echo loudly—yet remain unattained in practice.
