Nigeria's pastors 'as rich as oil barons'
Nigeria's pastors run
multi-million dollar businesses which rival that of oil tycoons, a Nigerian
blogger who has researched the issue has told the BBC. Mfonobong
Nsehe, who blogs for Forbes business magazine, says pastors own businesses from
hotels to fast-food chains.
"Preaching
is big business. It's almost as profitable as the oil business," he said.
The
joint wealth of five pastors was at least $200m (£121m), he said.
Mr
Nsehe said the richest of them, Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith World
Outreach Ministry, was worth about $150m.
Bishop
Oyedepo owned a publishing company, university, an elite private school, four
jets and homes in London and the United States,
according to Mr Nsehe.
'Private
jets'
The
Nigerian blogger said Bishop Oyedepo was followed on the rich list by Pastor
Chris Oyakhilome of the Believers' Loveworld Ministries. He was worth between
$30 and $50m.
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These pastors are flamboyant. You see them
with private jets and expensive cars”
"Oyakhilome's
diversified interests include newspapers, magazines, a local television
station, a record label, satellite TV, hotels and extensive real estate,"
Mr Nsehe said.
He
said three of the other richest pastors were:
Temitope
Joshua Matthew of the Synagogue
Church Of All Nations
(worth between $10m and $15m);
Matthew Ashimolowo of Kingsway
International Christian Centre (worth between $6 million and $10 million) and Chris Okotie of the Household of God Church
(worth between $3 million and $10 million).
Mr
Nsehe said representatives of all the clergymen, except Pastor Ashimolowo,
confirmed ownership of the assets he had listed on his blog.
"These
pastors are flamboyant. You see them with private jets and expensive cars. This
extravagance sends out the wrong message to their followers," he told the
BBC's Network Africa programme.
He
said the pastors acquired their wealth from various sources, including their
congregations.
"We
have Nigerians who are desperate, looking for solutions to their problems. They
go to church for salvation, redemption and healing and pastors sometimes take
advantage of them," Mr Nsehe said.
BBC
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