By Austin Ogwuda
The acclaimed Spiritual Leader of Okpe Kingdom, Archbishop Godday Iboyi has explained why he rejected his appointment as a member of the Christian Pilgrims Board, saying that it is misnomer to be Governor Sherrif Oborevwori appointee when in actual fact, he is his spiritual father.
The vociferous clergy who disclosed this in an exclusive interview with RERO Television in Sapele, Delta State, Nigeria, gave three reasons while he turned down the offer.
His words: “God did not use me to support the executive governor and Okpe Kingdom because of political appointment. There is no appointment that is good enough for a man of God more than the calling of preaching the gospel.
“Even if it’s the chairman of the Board, I will still reject it. If he (governor) says he is giving me the slot of a Commissioner, I will still reject it because God did not use me because of political appointment.
“Let me tell you something I rejected that appointment based on three grounds. One, God said I should reject it that He did not use me to promote Sherrif and Okpe because of appointment.
“Two, God said is an insult to Him indirectly because you cannot use your spiritual father to be your gateman. Indirectly, I will now be the one to be answerable to him (governor) if my very self that is a spiritual father to him now his appointee. How will I advise him again if he is doing wrong. If the people come to say your Governor is not doing well how will I have the boldness to face him and say your excellency people are crying, he will say go and do your job.
“He will say I have appointed you, I have given you your own office. You can’t use your father to be your gateman. Osibanjo was the Vice President of Nigeria for eight years did he appoint Pastor Adeboye as a Minister? But for the eight years he was there as Vice President did Adeboye suffer? Are you now going to tell me that Adeboye did not benefit from Buhari’s regime?
“When Obasanjo became the president, Oyedepo did a lot for Obasanjo when he was in prison, did he appoint Oyedepo as a Minister? But slots were given for him to give to his people.
“The third reason why I rejected the appointment”, he went on, “I was not consulted. I was not informed and I have been telling people that I don’t need appointment.
“Sherrif did not come and begged me before I stood for him; God gave me the order. I received a lot of insults the first vote I cast in my life was for Sherrif God said, told me to go and vote.
“If he had called me over the appointment I could have told him allow me to give you someone I have over one thousand he knows”, stated Archbishop Iboyi.
Credit: interview conducted by RERO TV