The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has issued a strong warning to the founder of Word Assembly Ministry in Ilorin, Rev. Isaac Omolehin, over remarks he recently made about leading figures in the church and the structure of Christian leadership in Nigeria.
In a statement released on Wednesday, CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, rejected claims suggesting internal rifts within the association, as well as allegations of mismanagement of relief funds. He described such assertions as inaccurate and intended to mislead the public.
The statement emphasised that CAN remains united and dismissed any insinuation of division as baseless. It also clarified that the association had neither received nor handled any relief funds, contrary to the claims being circulated.
“We state, in the clearest possible terms: these allegations are entirely false, unfounded, and deliberately misleading,” the statement read.
CAN further expressed concern over the manner in which certain respected Christian leaders were mentioned in Omolehin’s comments, warning that such references could create unnecessary tension within the church.
“We are deeply troubled that these baseless claims were publicly propagated by Rev. Isaac Omolehin, founder of Word Assembly Ministry, Ilorin, without evidence and without regard for the potential consequences on national cohesion and the unity of the Church.
“We also note, with concern, the unwarranted references to respected Christian leaders; Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Bishop David Oyedepo, and Pastor William Kumuyi, in a manner capable of misleading the faithful and inflaming unnecessary tensions,” the statement read.
The association cautioned Omolehin and others against spreading unverified information, stressing that it would not condone statements capable of damaging the church’s image.
“Let it be unequivocally stated: CAN will not tolerate the spread of falsehoods or any attempt to malign the Church.
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“Accordingly, we issue a firm and final caution to Rev. Isaac Omolehin and any other individuals or groups who misuse their platforms to disseminate unverified or defamatory claims: desist immediately.
Failure to do so will compel the Association to take all necessary steps, including legal action, to protect its integrity and that of the Christian community.”
The warning follows widespread reactions to a recent sermon by Omolehin, which has been extensively shared on social media.
During the sermon, the cleric questioned the notion of a single overarching “father” figure within Nigerian Christianity, arguing that church leadership in the country is largely defined by denominational boundaries.
In the viral video, he maintained that well-known figures such as Adeboye, Oyedepo, and Kumuyi should be regarded as leaders within their respective denominations rather than as spiritual fathers over all Christians nationwide.
“A father would be somebody who looks after us all. Not just promoting the denominational agenda and the competition of how I’m building one mile auditorium. Then another one is trying to build two miles.
“One has one aircraft, another one wants to have three. The rivalry, the competition has no spiritual content,” he said.
He also asserted that no individual could claim universal authority across all Christian traditions in the country.
His remarks have drawn mixed responses, with some supporting his views as a critique of denominational divisions, while others have criticised them as disrespectful toward established church leaders.