On CAMA, I Stand with Bishop Oyedepo and the Chuch

Whatever you do or whatever your intentions are concerning the CAMA proposal to appoint Trustees to regulate the financial affairs of the church, always remember that Pastors and Bishops come and go, but the Church remains. The moment you start subjecting the church, mosque, or religious body to the regulatory rigmarole of a Federal Government that lacks the managerial expertise to regulate its myriad institutions, you'd be creating a monster at Abuja that would hasten your demise as a nation-state. 

With CAMA engagement, the federal government is, directly and indirectly, capturing the inherent rights of the people as it relates to their relationship with God or Allah. If you want to tax the church, fine. But to shroud, your dubious intent under the argument of ensuring regulatory compliance because the church is a creation of an act of state is the vilest a proposition to make. 

There is more to the proposition than meets the eye. It has nothing to do with your love for the congregation or your interest in accountability or financial probity. It is hatred. Pure and simple. The authors of the proposal are not comfortable with the enormous wealth under the control of the big churches in Nigeria. The goal is to curb their influence and demystify the clout of the founders of the megachurches by any means necessary.  

Please, whether you are a lawyer or a public affairs commentator, don't be a victim of the resentment you harbour against some of the big names behind some of the big churches in Nigeria. The motive is to disorganize the church. The proposed financial review is just a facade to hoodwink gullible Nigeria into swallowing their hocus-pocus, to destroy the only institution in Nigeria that is operating outside of their whims and caprices. The church should resist it.