Dear Pastor Adeboye,
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to bring to your attention a matter of deep concern regarding the recent misbehaviour of one of your pastors, Dr. Siju Illuyomade, and his wife.
As you may already be aware, the untimely and tragic death of Herbert Wigwe, a beloved member and significant contributor to the RCCG City of David branch, has deeply affected not only the congregation but the entire financial intuitions from where Wigwe has made his mark. His sudden passing, along with his wife and child, in a fatal helicopter accident in the United States, has left a void in the hearts of many and the church community.
Mr. Wigwe was not only a faithful member of the church but also a generous supporter and leader in many church projects. His dedication to the growth and prosperity of the RCCG City of David was evident through his role as Chairman of the building committee and his substantial financial contributions.
However, one is deeply saddened to report that shortly after Mr. Wigwe’s passing, Pastor Illuyomade hosted an extravagant birthday celebration to mark the 60th birthday of his wife. Despite the somber mood and the ongoing forensic investigation surrounding Mr. Wigwe’s death, the lavishness of the event was shocking and insensitive.
As Christians, the calling is to mourn with those who mourn and to show compassion and empathy during times of grief. Hosting such an extravagant celebration so soon after the tragic loss of Mr. Wigwe and his family goes against the teachings of Christ and the principles of empathy and compassion that should guide the actions of Christians. Even the late Queen Elizabeth canceled her birthday party for two years due to the coronavirus pandemic. What is the church of Jesus Christ turning into in Nigeria? Apart from the sudden death of Wigwe and his family, does the mood of the nation warrant such extravagance? With the serious economic crisis where many people are struggling to eat, the question we need to ask is whether Jesus would have behalf in a like manner.
In light of the current economic crisis and the suffering of many in our nation, it is especially disheartening to witness such wasteful expenditure. Instead of indulging in extravagance, I believe it is incumbent upon us, as a church community, to seek ways to alleviate the suffering of those in need. We can take inspiration from the Catholic Church’s efforts to address food insecurity by establishing large-scale farming initiatives. Instead of this wasteful expenditure can’t our churches in Nigeria take a cue from the Catholic Church that established a big farm settlement of 70 hectares of land with land bigger than France, in other to assist in bringing an end to food insecurity that is ravaging the world at the moment? This is what we can do to alleviate the suffering of the people rather than crumbling, murmuring, and complaining about the politicians all the time. I do not doubt that you will extend appropriate punishment to Dr. Illuyomade and his wife for this pro-satanic behaviour.
I urge you, Pastor Adeboye, to address this matter with the seriousness it deserves. I hope that appropriate action will be taken to address the insensitive behavior of Pastor Illuyomade and his wife and to ensure that such actions are not repeated in the future.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and may God grant you wisdom and discernment as you navigate this challenging situation.
Sincerely,
Yours in Christ,
Dr Wole Durodolu