Redeemed Church Members Speak On Pastor Osinbajo

Less than 48 hours after a former Attorney-General of Lagos State, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, was announced as the Vice Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, many members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, have been reacting to the pronouncement.

According to reports, the emergence of Osinbajo, a Pastor at one of the branches of RCCG in Lagos State, as Buhari’s running mate was arrived at by the leadership of the APC after a very longdeliberation by the party.

In spite of  the fact that RCCG’s leadership has come out to state that the church does not involve itself with partisan politics, many members of RCCG have not stopped hailing the choice of Osinbajo as Buhari’s running mate.

According to some of the RCCG members, the former Lagos State Attorney-General is “Nigeria’s best choice” for the vice presidential post.

To them, the choice of their pastor ahead of the likes of Governors Babatunde Fashola, Adams Oshiomhole, Kayode Fayemi and Rotimi Amaechi, who were the leading contenders for the exalted position, was a testament that Osinbajo deserve the VP post.

“Honestly, I did not know him before now. But the moment I read his profile and saw that he was Redeemer with such an intimidating record, I could not but thank God for bringing him Nigeria’s way at this stage,” Uche Chukwuemeka, who worships at a branch of RCCG in Agege, enthused.

“He must have been that good to have occupied that post of Attorney-General in Lagos State for eight years without scandalous or shady deals. This has strengthened my resolve to vote for Buhari as well,” Chukwuemeka added.

Another member of the denomination, who simply identified himself as Segun, stated that he had been following Osinbajo since he was the Attorney General of Lagos state, but said he did not think the pastor would ever be involved in politics to be considered as a Vice Presidential candidate under any party.

The dark-skinned Architect, who worships in one RCCG’s elite branches in Ikeja, however, disclosed that Osinbajo’s popularity among members of the Redeemed Church would likely work in favour of the APC in next year’s presidential election.

Segun said: “If we want to leverage on his popularity within the ranks of our denomination, he is a very popular man, and as I was told, he is one of the members of our church’s Board of Trustees, BOT, which gives him a stronghold on the denomination.

“I give it to the party for sourcing out such a reliable and upright man in Professor Osinbajo. And honestly, I never thought of voting for anybody before, but because of him, I am going to vote for APC next year.”

A Muslim cleric, Alhaji Abdul Kamal, who also commented on the matter, disclosed that he was happy that the APC was thoughtful enough to choose a Christian as Buhari’s running mate.

The Ikorodu-based Islamic teacher said: “Many of us know how strong Redeemed Church is in the country and beyond, so there is no gain-saying in the choice of Osinbajo as the APC’s Vice Presidential candidate.

“I was thinking of Oshiomhole or Amaechi before, and it never occurred to me that the Professor was also a strong candidate for the post.

“But, the moment I read it in the papers, I just thanked God and said that it was good for the party to have picked a Pastor as Buhari’s running mate. I will definitely vote for them, not because I love APC, but because of their thoughtfulness.”

One member of the denomination, however, chose to differ from others, as she noted that she did not expect such a highly-placed clergyman to involve himself with the likes of former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu.

The lady, who pleaded anonymity, said: “If you look at the setting of the political party, they have great ideals and a unique blend. But, the individuals involved would not have made a good company for Professor.

“I think he is way too good to associate himself ‘openly’ with all of those people in the name of politics. No matter how we want to look at it, he is likely to sway when ships are down, otherwise, he may not last within their ranks.”

Not long after Buhari announced Osinbajo as his running mate for the 2015 presidential elections,he was said to have called Pastor Adeboye, for blessings.

Question later emerged over whose side Adeboye might take ahead of the 2015 polls being that Osinbajo is a pastor at his church and one of his close confidants. On the other hand, Adeboye has been associated with President Goodluck Jonathan, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Osinbajo is a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State. He has abeautiful wife, Mrs Oludolapo Osinbajo, who is a grandchild of the late Obafemi Awolowo.