David Oyedepo, presiding bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, says he won’t take the COVID-19 vaccine.
Nigeria commenced nationwide vaccination on March 5 after receiving 3.9 million doses courtesy of COVAX, the global alliance against COVID-19.
As of April 16, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) said 1,081,548 doses of the vaccine have so far been administered across the country.
Speaking on Saturday during his church’s Hour of Prayer service, Oyedepo said it is immoral to force people to take the vaccine.
The cleric said the church has the answer to some of the challenges facing the world, while he added that his job is to expose the devil and its agents.
“I have never seen a generation where you force people to take vaccines. It is inhuman; it is immoral sir. I’m not a lawyer but I don’t think it is legal. You can’t come to my house and want to give me injection,” Oyedepo said.
“On what? Did I invite you? They are confused. But the church has the answer. Did you see any outbreak of virus here? How will it enter the gate? Will it come through the air? How? One woman just got down after that injection in Kaduna. What kind of life? Are human beings now turned to guinea pigs?
“The world is confused but the church is lighted. So the triumph of the church will humble the pride of the world. They don’t know what to do sir. In the last days, the church will be reigning in power and glory. That is God’s agenda.
“No apologies. There is a big, big bird in our land, saying “don’t take it, they are deceivers. Let me see someone who will come and inject me. By who? Are you going to tie my hands. How? Did I invite you? I know you are quiet, you will hear more of it. My job is to expose the devil and tell his agents “get off, we are not guinea pigs.”
The cleric has made some controversial claims and comments about the COVID-19 pandemic in the past.
Oyedepo had previously kicked against the lockdown directive and dismissed warnings that places of worship are vulnerable with respect to the spread of COVID-19.
The cleric had also said he would lay his bare hands on COVID-19 patients brought to him for prayer, while he also claimed about 114 members of his church testified to have been healed of coronavirus.