Nigeria 2015: Jonathan visits Oyedepo’s Winners Chapel

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Three weeks to the general elections, President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday visited one of the largest churches in Nigeria during its weekly service.

Just like he did in the run up to the 2011 presidential election when he visited the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Mr. Jonathan, Sunday, visited the Living Faith Church, also known as the Winners Chapel, Ota.

Since the 2011 visit to the RCCG where he was criticised by some Nigerians for kneeling before the General Overseer of the Church, Enoch Adeboye, thus using religion to curry political favour, Mr. Jonathan has been a regular visitor to popular churches in the country and abroad. He has gone on pilgrimage to Israel at least twice since he became president. He is also a close friend of the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Ayo Oritsejafor.

However the president was recently criticised by popular Catholic priest and his former staunch supporter, Ejike Mbaka, who asked his followers to not to vote for Mr Jonathan in the forthcoming election but instead vote of his rival Muhammadu Buhari, a Muslim.

On Sunday, Mr. Jonathan tried to downplay the political undertone of his visit. He said he was not at the church, one of the largest in Nigeria, to canvas for votes.

“I don’t want to talk much before I am accused of coming to Church to campaign for election. I plead with you all to keep praying for successful and peaceful election next month,” he said.

“There are various predictions concerning the election, but I trust God to take control of the situation. I commend Bishop Oyedepo for his commitment to the work of God and education, without education we can’t achieve much,” he added.

Responding to Mr Jonathan’s call for prayers for a successful election, the General Overseer of the Winners Chapel, David Oyedepo said: “I pray that God will grant President Jonathan the unusual grace to meet the demands of his office.”