Lifestyle

Reactions Trail TB Joshua’s Death

By Web News 565

Reactions have continued to trail the death of the founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nation, (SCOAN), Pastor T.B Joshua.

Lagos State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, commiserate with the family of the notable Pastor, saying that he was a great man of God.

CP Odumosu urged the family and the church to take his death as a  will of God.

In a statement made available to newsmen, CP odumosu said  Pastor Joshua was officially pronounced dead by a hospital in Lagos around 3am of Sunday.

The statement says the information made available to the CP’s office indicates that the deceased was said to be conducting a service when he suddenly became uncomfortable, he walked to his apartment himself, and never came back.

In another development, President, Baptist Convention, Reverend Isreal Akanji, has commiserated with the family and Church of Prophet TB Joshua and pray that God will comfort them and grant them the fortitude to bear the loss. 

The Baptist Convention urged the Synagogue of all Nation to continue in the gospel of our Lord Jesus more than before as their founder had taught them.

The convention further prayed that God will strengthen them to prepare people for the coming of the Lord Jesus.

Abisola Oluremi

Lifestyle

Ondo Community Thrown Into Mourning Over TB Joshua’s Demise

By Web News 567

Markets and shops in Arigidi Akoko have been shut as the community continue to mourn the sudden demise of one of their illustrious sons, Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua.

Arigidi Akoko in Akoko Northwest Local governmnet area of Ondo state, Southwest Nigeria is the hometown Of Pastor T.B Joshua.

Similar situation is also being witnessed in adjoining towns and villages as a mark of honour to the late televangelist.

The Palace of Zaki of Arigidi and the home of late T.B Joshua’s elder brother have also continued to play host to multitude who trooped in to commiserate with them.

Condolence registers have also been opened in both places with notable personalities within and outside Ondo state signing them.

Arigidi Akoko has been in mourning mood since the news of the death of Pastor Joshua filtered into the ancient community on Sunday.

Speaking with Positive FM, the immediate elder brother of the deceased, Mr Abimbola Balogun lamented that the wound of the sudden passage of the popular televangelist would take a long time to heal as he was a blessing to the Akokoland and humanity in general.

Just as the monarch of Arigidi Akoko, Oba Yisa Olanipekun spoke glowingly of the late Minister of God, another Akoko Monarch, the Onigedegede of Igedegede, Oba Walidu Sanni recalled how late T.B Joshua extended his philanthropic and charitable gestures to widows, orphans and disabled in other communities aside from his country home.

While paying a condolence visit to the family, Akoko Northwest Council boss, Mr Ayodele Akande said the entire Akokoland had lost one of its shinning lights and prayed God to console the family.

Ibrahim Kilani

Lifestyle

Youtube Blocks TB Joshua’s Page

By Web News 595

YouTube has suspended the account of influential Nigerian TV evangelist TB Joshua over allegations of hate speech.

A rights body filed a complaint after reviewing at least seven videos showing the preacher conducting prayers to “cure” gay people.

Facebook has also removed at least one of the offending posts showing a woman being slapped while TB Joshua says he is casting out a “demonic spirit”.

The preacher said he was appealing against YouTube’s decision.

His YouTube account had 1.8 million subscribers.

TB Joshua is one of Africa’s most influential evangelists, with top politicians from across the continent among his followers.

UK-based openDemocracy filed a complaint after reviewing seven videos posted on TB Joshua Ministries’ YouTube channel between 2016 and 2020, which show the preacher conducting prayers to “cure” gay people.

A YouTube spokesperson told openDemocracy that the channel had been closed because its policy “prohibits content which alleges that someone is mentally ill, diseased, or inferior because of their membership in a protected group including sexual orientation”.

A post on TB Joshua Ministries Facebook account said: “We have had a long and fruitful relationship with YouTube and believe this decision was made in haste.”

The video is an update of a prayer session of a woman called Okoye, first broadcast in 2018.

In it TB Joshua slaps and pushes Okoye and an unnamed woman at least 16 times and tells Okoye: “There is a spirit disturbing you. She has transplanted herself into you. It is the spirit of woman,” openDemocracy reports.

The video which was viewed more than 1.5 million before the YouTube channel was taken down, later shows her testifying before the congregation that “the spirit of woman” had been destroying her life but she had been healed after the preacher’s prayers.

She declares that she had stopped having “affection” to women and “now I have affections for men”.

BBC