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The Church of God Mission International has refuted media reports (not in the PUNCH) that its spiritual leader, Archbishop Margaret Benson-Idahosa, expressed disappointment in the leadership of Bishop Wale Oke, the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria.
In a statement on Wednesday by CGMI’s Director of Administration, Rev Yari Ekiyor, titled, ‘Church of God Mission International Sets the Record Straight: Standing for Truth,’
the Church of God Mission International said it rejected the false claim in the publication.
Rev. Ekiyor described the report as inaccurate and misleading, reiterating the church’s commitment to unity and integrity within the body of Christ.
The statement reads, “The Church of God Mission International has strongly rejected the false claims made in a recent newspaper publication titled, ‘Rumbling in PFN: Why Bishop Wale Oke May Not Be Reelected,’ published on January 26, 2025.
“The article inaccurately stated that Archbishop Margaret Benson-Idahosa, the spiritual leader of CGMI, expressed disappointment in the leadership of Bishop Wale Oke, the President of the PFN.
“The report was entirely false, misleading, and misrepresented. The church emphasized that Archbishop Benson-Idahosa had never made such statements.
“The supposed remarks were distorted from a light-hearted comment made during a birthday celebration for Bishop David Oyedepo last year. During the event, Archbishop Benson-Idahosa jokingly noted that Bishop Oke had not been as present in her life as a son should be, a remark that had no connection to his leadership of PFN.
“CGMI expressed its concern over what it deemed a pattern of sensationalism and misreporting by this newspaper, which it claimed had previously published misleading articles about the church and its leadership.”
The church added that it viewed this latest report as defamatory and an attempt to sow division within the Pentecostal community, demanding an immediate retraction of the publication.
CGMI also reaffirmed its unwavering support for the PFN and Bishop Wale Oke, recognizing his significant contributions to both the Fellowship and the Kingdom of God.
The church also urged the public to exercise discernment and caution when encountering unverified reports, especially those attempting to create unnecessary controversy within the Christian faith.
