Lauretta Onochie, a media aide of President Muhammadu Buhari, has criticised David Oyedepo, presiding bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, for rejecting the Company and Allied Matters Acts (CAMA).
The bishop had kicked against the law, saying it is irrational to subject churches to the same laws as companies.
Under CAMA, signed into law on August 7, religious bodies and charity organisations will be strictly regulated by the registrar-general of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and a supervising minister.
But addressing members of his congregation on Sunday, Oyedepo said such laws were borne of out the government’s jealousy about the prosperity recorded by the church.
“The church is God’s heritage on earth. Molest the wife of somebody and you will see the anger of that person. The church is the bride of Christ. You know how a strong man is when you tamper with his wife. The church is the body of Christ. We are under obligation to give warnings to wicked rulers so we could be free from their blood,” he had said.
Reacting in a tweet on Monday, Ononchie said Oyedepo would have to abide by the government’s law as long as he dwells in the country.
“I hope this is not true. If it is, Oyedepo will have to manufacture his own country and live by his own laws,” the tweet read.
“As long as he lives and operates within the entity called Nigeria, he will live by Nigerian rules and laws. He will do as he’s told by the law. Enough of lawlessness.”
I hope this is not true. If it is, Oyedepo will have to manufacture his own country and live by his own laws.
As long as he lives and operates within the entity called Nigeria, he will live by Nigerian rules and laws. He will do as he’s told by the law🙄