The leadership tussle in the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) Worldwide yesterday took a new turn as Reverend Olatoso Matthew Oshoffa emerged the new spiritual head.
Olatoso Oshoffa, the 20th child of the late CCC founder, Samuel Bilewu Joseph Oshoffa, is taking the seat vacated by his elder brother, Emmanuel Mobiyina Oshoffa, following a court order.
At a briefing in Lagos yesterday, Olatoso Oshoffa said he had been ordained by God and elders in the church to be the new spiritual head and unify various factions.
It would be recalled that an Ilaro High Court in Ogun State had on March 26, 2015, terminated the tenure of Emmanuel Oshoffa, under whom Olatoso served as personal assistant.
Besides the CCC not allegedly making progress in 12 years of his elder brother’s reign, Olatoso Oshoffa said the court’s ruling “saddened my heart as the church was not developing in the last 30 years that my father had passed on and my brother also being removed as the pastor of CCC, worldwide.”
Explaining the revelation that confirmed his candidacy, he said: “During one of my journeys to France, specifically on the 30th of May 2015, my father appeared to me and said ‘My son, Olatoso, the church has diverted from my calling and I want you to stand up, take up my abandoned work and lead my children.’
“To me, it was a big challenge, even though a confirmation of such had gone forth through several prophesies and revelations since my birth and well even before the appointment of my brother as the pastor of CCC worldwide.
“I have met several spiritual leaders in the church, telling them the revelation I received from my father and from God Almighty. A lot of them did prayed about it and confirmed that the revelation is truly from my father and indeed from God. Hence, my acceptance of the leadership nomination to come and unite our church, ensure stability and peace and to build our Celestial Church of Christ worldwide as started by my father and founder.”
The 45-year-old new spiritual head disclosed that his appointment and declaration as the “Unification Leader” of CCC was done in Imeko, Ogun State on June 10, 2015 after series of consultations.
Oshoffa said the development showed that his siblings were united on his candidacy and ready to support him in the daunting task ahead. He recalled that the age-long crisis in the CCC, since the founder died in 1985, had been foreseen by his late father, and just “a trying time for the CCC”.
Olatoso said his emergence as leader, though “a sacrifice” on his path, would restore all the lost glories of the white-garment church.
He said his priority would, among others, include uniting the church, ensuring physical and spiritual growth, improving upon welfare of members and workers as well as completion and commissioning of the Imeko cathedral and other infrastructure within five years.
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