Pastor Iluyomade was Barred From the RCCG Before He Started His Own Ministry
Quincy Ayodele, an elder in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), City of David Parish, has denied allegations that the former Pastor-in-Charge, Idowu Iluyomade, rebelled against the church before establishing his own congregation. Ayodele stated that she had expected Iluyomade to be reinstated to his parish or another after serving a three-month suspension imposed by the church leadership.
Ayodele expressed surprise and disappointment upon learning that Iluyomade was issued a letter prohibiting him from entering the church premises. She revealed that she had accompanied Iluyomade to the RCCG headquarters in Ebute Meta during his suspension period and had anticipated his reinstatement to City of David. However, she was informed that he was permanently barred from the parish, a decision she found perplexing given the close relationship between Iluyomade and Pastor Enoch Adeboye.
While rejecting claims of rebellion, Ayodele emphasized that Iluyomade was specifically instructed not to return to City of David. She stated that the reasoning behind this decision was only known to Pastor Adeboye, the governing council, and God. In response to the church’s actions, concerned elders wrote letters appealing to Adeboye for leniency, but no response was received.
Following his exclusion from City of David, Iluyomade and his family began attending Kings Court, another RCCG parish he had previously established. Initially, they were welcomed and recognized as founding members, but they were later informed that they could no longer be accommodated. Ayodele questioned whether Pastor Adeboye would allow Iluyomade to be lost to the world, referencing biblical teachings about seeking out lost sheep.
Addressing rumors about financial contributions, Ayodele refuted claims that the late CEO of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe, was the primary financier of the Trinity Towers project. She clarified that the church’s iconic edifice was funded collectively by City of David parishioners, including Wigwe.
Regarding the controversy surrounding the 60th birthday celebration of Iluyomade’s wife shortly after Wigwe’s death, Ayodele admitted initial unawareness of the backlash. She recounted how news of the celebration emerged while she was out of the country and how shocked she was to see negative reports surfacing afterward. Wigwe, his wife, and their son had tragically died in a helicopter crash on February 9, 2024, a loss that deeply affected both the business and religious communities in Nigeria. The subsequent birthday celebration, viewed as inappropriate timing, sparked outrage and ultimately led to Iluyomade’s suspension from RCCG City of David.
Ayodele highlighted Iluyomade’s extensive contributions to RCCG and Pastor Adeboye, citing numerous charitable initiatives, including free schools, weekly feeding programs for the underprivileged, and various societal improvements funded by the church. She revealed that multiple influential Nigerians had attempted to intercede on Iluyomade’s behalf, pleading with Pastor Adeboye to reconsider his stance, but to no avail.
She recounted how appeals to Adeboye were met with statements about Iluyomade repaying loans, a matter she believed did not justify his continued exclusion. Despite assurances that he would be reinstated, Adeboye did not act on these promises. When further pleas were made, including physical acts of supplication, Adeboye remained unmoved.
When asked whether the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria intervened, Ayodele responded that only divine intervention could change Adeboye’s decision. She emphasized that Iluyomade had never planned to establish a new church and that those he had helped in the past abandoned him during his time of difficulty. She described how, upon visiting Iluyomade, she found him in tears after being informed that he could not return to City of David.
Ayodele expressed deep disappointment upon hearing Pastor Adeboye refer to those who left the church as demons and suggest that the Trinity Towers was built by devils. She questioned whether this was truly the same leader she had always followed.
Despite Iluyomade’s decision to establish a new church, Ayodele stated that she chose not to join him, hoping that the conflict could still be resolved. She remains committed to mediating the situation and expressed her willingness to plead personally with Pastor Adeboye for Iluyomade’s reinstatement if given the opportunity.
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