Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) has come under criticism following comments he made about the late Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, the first General Evangelist of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC).
In a video that has gone viral on social media and was seen by First Daily correspondent on Thursday, Fatoyinbo praised Babalola as “so anointed” but claimed that “all the grace just went like that” because the cleric “had no money.”
He also recounted a story in which a python allegedly dried up after crawling across Babalola’s leg.
The remarks have sparked heated debate within Nigeria’s Christian community, with many questioning the pastor’s portrayal of the revered revivalist.
He said, “I was studying recently about what Apostle Babalola did. I stand to be corrected. What God did through Smith Wigglesworth, if they had documented what God did in the life of that man (Babalola), people would be coming here for pilgrimage. He was anointed. So anointed.
“Anointed man. Heavy-duty grace, but no money. So all the grace just went like that.”
The CAC, in a statement on Thursday signed by its Director of Publicity, Pastor Ade Alawode, accused Fatoyinbo of promoting a misleading link between ministerial success and material wealth.
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The statement partly read, “Ordinarily, we do not respond to social media commentaries or controversies. However, we consider it necessary to address your recent statements, which have been widely circulated on your social media platforms.
“In one of your trending messages on YouTube, you acknowledged that Apostle Babalola was highly anointed but ‘had no money,’ and then went on to ask sarcastically, ‘Where are his children?’ — a question that was both insensitive and ill-informed.
“To equate anointing or ministerial success with material wealth is biblically flawed. The words of Jesus are clear: Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” — Luke 12:15.”
The CAC also sought to “set the record straight,” insisting that Babalola was not poor, lived in a “befitting home,” owned one of the best Ford Jeeps of his time, and provided for many beyond his biological children.
“When Queen Elizabeth II visited Nigeria in February 1956, Apostle Babalola was among the honored guests. Would a man in rags be granted such recognition by a colonial government? Certainly not,” Alawode added.
It noted that his two surviving children were “blessed, fulfilled, and quietly serving the Lord in their respective churches. They are not loud, ostentatious, or greedy.”