The Ogun State Government has demolished a church building owned by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, (RCCG) to cries of lamentations by worshippers.
Premium Times reports that the demolished building is located inside Obasanjo Hilltop, an estate named after former President Olusegun Obasanjo by the state government; and located along the Presidential Boulevard, Abeokuta, the state capital.
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The church construction project was started in 2013 and was headed by a prominent critic of the APC-led Ogun Government, a former lawmaker in the state, Remmy Hazzan. The building was being roofed when caterpillars, on orders from the Ogun Governor Ibikun Amosun rolled in to the property on Friday, November 6, 2015 and pulled it down.
According to sources which spoke with online newspaper, Premium Times, the church was set to commence use of the ground floor for Christian activities this Sunday, November 8, 2015 ahead of the completion of the building.
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According to eye-witnesses, as the state government demolished the building, workers at the site and church members burst into tears, with some shouting “Jesus, Jesus, this is your house,” “Lord where is your face.”
Investigations by Premium Times reveals that the State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, “insisted the building be pulled down, arguing that the structure violated the residential master plan of the estate”.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Special Duties, Leke Adewolu, told newsmen, he was not aware of the demolition exercise. But, special adviser on Media to Governor Amosun, Adejuwon Soyinka, revealed that the demolition was approved by the governor because “the church building did not have an official approval”.
He is currently at his farm in Daura, Katsina giving Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun and others a tour of place in May 2015 | Bella Naija
“I am told that the church has no title documents nor approval,” Soyinka told newsmen. “The estate is strictly residential, and the building has defeated the approved design plan. And let me quickly add, nothing is political about the action.”
Another commissioner in the state, Adebola Adeife, who heads the Urban and Regional Planning Ministry was unreachable for comments.
When contacted, officials of the church declined comment on the orders of Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the church.
RCCG is one the largest pentecostal churches in Nigeria. Adeboye has been named of the most influential people in the world. Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo is a pastor of the church.
