…urges redirection to orphanages, insists on church-state separation
In a rare show of principle and clarity on church-state boundaries, Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr Paul Enenche, has turned down a ₦30 million donation made on behalf of Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, during a recent crusade held by the church in Birnin Kebbi.
The cash donation, presented during the Kebbi Healing and Deliverance Crusade, was announced by the state’s Commissioner for Religious Affairs and Social Duties, Zayyanu Umar Aliero, who represented the governor. Aliero said the money, approved by Governor Idris for the crusade organising committee, was being handed over in cash — in keeping with the governor’s tradition of honouring such donations promptly.
However, in a moment that drew wide applause and commendation from some quarters, Pastor Enenche firmly declined the offer, calling instead for the money to be redirected to charitable ventures within the state.
“If there is anything like orphanage… please apply this amount of money to it. No. It will not be received,” Enenche told the crowd, refusing to accept the cash donation on behalf of the church.
He later explained his reasons more fully to the congregation, warning against the mixing of government resources with church affairs.
“We believe government money should be used for government projects and church money for church things. No mixing,” Enenche said.
Referring to the Glory Dome, Dunamis’ massive church auditorium in Abuja, he declared that not a single naira of government money had gone into its construction.
“From land to the building to everything — government money is not in it,” he emphasized, adding that the church has always relied on “supernatural supply.”
Instead of accepting the donation, Pastor Enenche suggested that the funds could be channeled through legitimate public religious bodies such as the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board or the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) — if at all they must be used for faith-based interventions.
“That way, the Church can retain its dignity and be free to speak truth to power without compromise.”
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Reacting to the rejection, Commissioner Aliero commended Enenche, stating that the governor respected the pastor’s stance and was grateful for the work the church was doing in Kebbi.
“They don’t accept it because whatever he is doing, he is doing it for the sake of God. We appreciate and thank him.”
The development has sparked conversations nationwide around the ethical lines between government and religious institutions, with many praising the pastor’s decision as a refreshing demonstration of accountability, discipline, and separation of powers in a country often criticised for its blurred lines between public office and private interests.