The Senior Pastor of the Christ Livingspring Apostolic Ministry (CLAM), Omole, Lagos, Pastor Wole Oladiyun, has expressed concern that the 2020 CAMA Legislation is susceptible to abuse and manipulation by the corrupt and dishonest public service system Nigeria runs.
According to the critically acclaimed minister of God, the Church as a collective entity in Nigeria does not trust the government, hence the barrage of criticisms that heralded the signing of the 2020 CAMA legislation by President Muhammadu Buhari on August 7.
While featuring on The Podium Media‘s Instagram Personality Interview Series – ON THE PODIUM – via @thepodiummediaonline, Pastor Oladiyun said: “The church does not trust the government; what they want to do, the intention is good because this is already being done in the developed world where the systems are purposefully structured to do that. CLAM has prayer centres in the UK and USA, so we know the rules and regulations. But I have gone through the CAMA Law, and I regret to say that Nigerians will not be honest with its implementation”.
According to him, CAMA will be a tool of vendetta and revenge by government officials. “If the people in government see that a particular church is criticizing government even if it is the truth, they will use the CAMA Law to finish the church. Also, the Government does not have the network and the capacity to manage and successfully implement the law. And if they want to do it the way the Charity Commission operates in the UK, I do not see the right level of honesty in our leaders. It is not going to work”.
He says his concern about the CAMA Law being abused and manipulated is not entirely misplaced because government officials are already talking and acting in a way that suggests that there is a premeditated agenda to gag the Church and stigmatise church leaders.
““I read a publication where they said any organisation that does not obey CAMA Law is doomed. They are already fanning the embers of war. It should not be so. They should make it transparent. When they want to look at NGOs, including churches, they must do it holistically and objectively. It must involve churches, mosques, and even traditional worshippers – the Sango and Ogun worshippers. Let them go to their shrines and tell them to obey CAMA law”, he added.
He said the body of Christ would collectively fight and resist CAMA because there is no honesty or sincerity in its implementation.
Pastor Oladiyun rebuffed insinuations that churches are protesting against CAMA because they do not want to be accountable and transparent in their financial dealings. That is totally untrue, he said, adding: “In CLAM, for instance, we have nothing to fear. Every year, we audit our books and file all necessary returns. So, we are not new to accountability and transparency. My fear and concern is that the Federal Government has no structure to sustain the effective implementation of the law”, he clarified.
He also rejected criticisms that ministers of God have become politicians with their incessant comments on government and governance in the country. ” I am not a politician, but I am an activist. I want things to get better in Nigeria. I will not relent in calling on government officials to do the right thing. Nobody can cajole me. This country belongs to all of us, and I have the right to air my views as loudly as I can. I have always used the pulpit to exhort those in positions of authority to please do the right thing. Nigeria is too blessed to be poor and stranded”.
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