22nd June, 2015
Kazeem Ugbodaga
The leadership crisis rocking the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) worldwide appears to have ended as Rev. Olatoso Oshoffa has emerged as the “unification leader” of the church.
At a news Conference on Monday in Lagos, southwest Nigeria, Oshoffa, alongside other notable leaders of the church said his emergence was ordained by God, adding that, his emergence had been foretold even before the demise of his father, Samuel Oshoffa.
According to him, his emergence is sequel to the vacation of the seat by court judgment of his elder brother, Emmanuel Mobiyina Oshoffa.
Olatoso said the main mission given to him after being anointed by God was to unite the Celestial family, adding that, past struggles in the church were the handiwork of satan.
He said the church in the last 12 years under the leadership of his elder brother, Emmanuel Oshoffa failed to progress.
An Ilaro High Court on March 26, 2015, terminated the tenure of his elder brother (Emmanuel Oshoffa), under whom Olatoso served as personal assistant.
Shedding light on the circumstances that led to his emergence as the “unification leader” of the church, Olatoso said: “On one of my journeys to France, specifically on the 30th of May, 2015, my father appeared to me and said ‘my son, Olatoso, the church has diverted from my calling and I want you to stand up, take up my abandoned work and lead my children’.
“I have met several spiritual leaders in the church, telling them the revelation I received from my father and from God almighty. A lot of them did pray about it and confirmed that the revelation is truly from my father and indeed from God.
“Hence, my acceptance of the leadership position to and unite our church, ensure stability and peace in our church and to build our Celestial Church of Christ worldwide as started by my father and founder,” he said.
Oshoffa noted that his appointment and declaration as the “unification leader” of CCC was done in Imeko, Ogun State on 10 June, 2015 after series of consultations, noting that, the development showed that his siblings were united on his candidacy and ready to support him in the daunting task ahead.
He recalled that the age-long crisis in the CCC which began since the founder died in 1985, had been foreseen by his late father, and just “a trying time for the CCC”.