Nigeria's pastors 'as rich as oil barons'
Nigeria's pastors run multi-million dollar businesses which rival that of oil tycoons, a Nigerian blogger who has researched the issue has told the BBC.
Mfonobong Nsehe, who blogs for Forbes business magazine, says pastors own businesses from hotels to fast-food chains.
"Preaching is big business. It's almost as profitable as the oil business," he said.
The joint wealth of five pastors was at least $200m (£121m), he said.
Mr Nsehe said the richest of them, Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith World Outreach Ministry, was worth about $150m.
Bishop Oyedepo owned a publishing company, university, an elite private school, four jets and homes in London and the United States, according to Mr Nsehe.
'Private jets'
The Nigerian blogger said Bishop Oyedepo was followed on the rich list by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of the Believers' Loveworld Ministries. He was worth between $30 and $50m.
These pastors are flamboyant. You see them with private jets and expensive cars.
"Oyakhilome's diversified interests include newspapers, magazines, a local television station, a record label, satellite TV, hotels and extensive real estate," Mr Nsehe said.
He said three of the other richest pastors were:
Temitope Joshua Matthew of the Synagogue Church Of All Nations (worth between $10m and $15m);
Matthew Ashimolowo of Kingsway International Christian Centre (worth between $6 million and $10 million) and
Chris Okotie of the Household of God Church (worth between $3 million and $10 million).
Mr Nsehe said representatives of all the clergymen, except Pastor Ashimolowo, confirmed ownership of the assets he had listed on his blog.
"These pastors are flamboyant. You see them with private jets and expensive cars. This extravagance sends out the wrong message to their followers," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
He said the pastors acquired their wealth from various sources, including their congregations.
"We have Nigerians who are desperate, looking for solutions to their problems. They go to church for salvation, redemption and healing and pastors sometimes take advantage of them," Mr Nsehe said.
Source BBC
I Fear Nothing But Fear Itself
How the Berlin Conference Clung on Africa: What Africa Must Do
4 comments:
If they got it from desparate and needy, shame on them!
That is Nigeria, provided bongo's situation how many worth far more than more mafisadi?Nahisi hapa ni kwamba tu forbes hawajashtuka!
Daima wajinga ndiyo waliwao...na mtu kuwa mwizi siyo lazima kubeba bunduki. Dini imevamiwa na siku hizi huwezi kujua kipi ni kipi kwani dini sasa ni bonge la biashara. Mahubiri ya kukemea dhambi na kuwa wanyenyekevu mbele ya Mungu yameshaachwa na sasa kinachohubiriwa ni jinsi ya kutajirika na kupata neema za Mungu. Ili Kuneemeshwa na Mungu hata hivyo inakubidi kwanza utoe vyote ulivyonavyo na kumpa baba askofu. Matokeo yake wewe unasikinika na baba askofu anajijenga mahekalu yake, ananunua dege lake binafsi na kuishi maisha ya kifahari kupindukia. Sijui kama hii ni haki...
Hapa Marekani mpaka ilibidi Baraza la Kongresi kuwachunguza baadhi ya wahubiri baada ya kugundulika kwamba walikuwa ni matajiri wa kutupwa na walikuwa wanatumia pesa kiholela. Mhubiri mmoja wa kike aliwashangaza watu ilipogundulika kwamba alikuwa amejinunulia choo (ile sehemu ya kukalia tu) chenye thamani ya dola 50,000 - yote katika jina la Mungu na tena bila kutozwa kodi!
Matondo na Anon mmenena. Ila hiyo ya mama mpenda vyoo kali kweli kweli. Hujawasikia matapeli kama Kakobe, Rwakatare, Gamanywa na wengine wanavyotesa huku waumini wao wanaowakamua wakiteseka. Huwa nashindwa la kufanya kuwasaidia hawa waathirika.
Daima wajinga ndiyo waliwao...na mtu kuwa mwizi siyo lazima kubeba bunduki. Dini imevamiwa na siku hizi huwezi kujua kipi ni kipi kwani dini sasa ni bonge la biashara. Mahubiri ya kukemea dhambi na kuwa wanyenyekevu mbele ya Mungu yameshaachwa na sasa kinachohubiriwa ni jinsi ya kutajirika na kupata neema za Mungu. Ili Kuneemeshwa na Mungu hata hivyo inakubidi kwanza utoe vyote ulivyonavyo na kumpa baba askofu. Matokeo yake wewe unasikinika na baba askofu anajijenga mahekalu yake, ananunua dege lake binafsi na kuishi maisha ya kifahari kupindukia. Sijui kama hii ni haki... Hapa Marekani mpaka ilibidi Baraza la Kongresi kuwachunguza baadhi ya wahubiri baada ya kugundulika kwamba walikuwa ni matajiri wa kutupwa na walikuwa wanatumia pesa kiholela. Mhubiri mmoja wa kike aliwashangaza watu ilipogundulika kwamba alikuwa amejinunulia choo (ile sehemu ya kukalia tu) chenye thamani ya dola 50,000 - yote katika jina la Mungu na tena bila kutozwa kodi!
Post a Comment