Senior pastor of Covenant Christian Center, Poju Oyemade, has acknowledged the stepping aside from the pulpit of pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, but stated that the next thing needed is  justice, healing and redemption.

According to him, these three actions are what is in the mind the spiritual leaders whom the embattled pastor deferrs in authority to.

Oyemade in an Instagram post entitled
“My position on the case,” decried  the independent structure under which most Pentecostal Churches operate, as opposed to what obtains in the orthodox church settings, where a pastor is appointed and can be easily sanctioned.
He apologised to those who have been abused and exposed under independent pentecostal structures, while seeking to build stronger structures through peer reviews and relationships.
He wrote: “I have been asked by many well meaning people about my position concerning the accusation of rape made against Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo.

“I could only watch the tape by Busola Dakolo for a few minutes, it was difficult to sit through it. From what I heard it is impossible not to be heart broken and sympathise with her. She must have gone through a lot  and then to sit to tape her experience must have been very painful.

“She is today a wife and mother of three to have to relive a 20yr old experience.

“I immediately contacted the spiritual leader in the Body of Christ I believe Pastor Biodun deferrs in authority to, to wade into the issue and bring about a decision.
“He informed me his position. It was that Pst Biodun should first step down from the pulpit indefinitely, suspend 7days of glory and make a public statement. These he made known to him directly in an hour.
“This should serve as the first step. He informed me that was the position and asked my opinion.

“We had 3 objectives in mind.
1. Justice
2. Healing
3. Redemption.

“I have been informed that the decision to step down and cancel the 7 days of Glory have been made.
“It is apparent that the manner in which our  Pentecostal Churches were/are born with an individual receiving a call directly from God and we all operating largely as independent bodies, our governing structures are not as strong as in the orthodox church settings with the exemption of Pentecostal denominations where you are appointed a pastor and can be easily sanctioned.
“This however makes it imperative that we go an extra mile to show a high level of compassion and sense of responsibility for people placed under our care or else what has brought our great growth may be what will destroy us.
“For those who have been abused and exposed in our independent pentecostal structures, I deeply apologise and we will seek to build stronger structures through peer reviews and in our relationships.
Thank you and God bless you.”