How The Struggle For Power Broke PFN
These days, the once solid Pentecostal Fellowship of' Nigeria (PFN), has become a mere shadow of itself. This is because this association of Pentecostal cChurches is now suffering from a serious leadership crisis, a problem that has led to the emergence of several factions. According to our investigations the crisis within the PFN fellowship is a result of a tussle for power and especial problems related to sharing grants and other perks accruing to the fold. In this Special Report written by CHARLES NWAGBARA of Encomium, we give you a detailed account of how the once respected, vocal and active organisation is now filled with members' intent on destroying each other.
  



For those who hold the opinion that it was Power­tussle that scattered the PFN fold, they trace it to the seven­year tenure of former President, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, the General Overseer of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM). Before Bishop Okonkwo came to Power, the tenure for presidents was two years, it was later changed to three years and both Rev Badejo of Foursquare Church and Pastor E O Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) served one three-year terms.

Trouble started in 1999, when the Reverend Moses Iloh led Constitution Review Committee, granted a four term in the Constitution. The incumbent President then, Bishop Mike Okonkwo had the first go and enjoyed four years in his second-term. When he was to re-contest for a third term, a faction led by Bishop Peter Okoduwa, the General Overseer of the Dispensational Gospel Mission International, came out smoking from all angles.

They accused Bishop Okonkwo of wanting to perpetuate himself in power. They alleged that having served as National Secretary and Deputy President at various times, Bishop Okonkwo's quest for another term, smirked of greed and lust for power. The Peter Okoduwa Group also alleged that Mike Okonkwo was running a one-man show and that decisions were taken unilaterally without consultations.

They also claimed that the four-year term in the Constitution was immoral and meant to ensure Okonkwo staying in office permanently. Eventually, the power tussle between the Okonkwo group and the Okoduwa's group, led to Bishop Okonkwo rescinding his decision to re-contest and the emergence of the new regime led by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the General Overseer of the Word of Life Bible Church.

Since the election of Oritsejafor, rather than have one house, the polarisation has gone deeper and deeper with many Pastors who are close to the ousted Mike Okonkwo withdrawing their presence from all PFN functions. In fact, even State Chapters of PFN have gone independent and hardly take orders from the national body led by Oritsejafor.

When three years ago Rev. Kris Okotie of the Household of God's Church accused Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy and Pastor Temitope Joshua of Synagogue of using magic in their ministries. That singular issue helped to weaken the foundation and unity of the PFN. A former PFN President. Bishop Mike Okonkwo was accused of not handling the matter in a diplomatic way.

When he visited Rev, Kris Okotie's House Hold of God Church and Chris Oyakhilome several Pentecostal pastors cried foul. They claimed that the issue had not been decided at any meeting and that as the head of PFN, Bishop Okonkwo's public condemnation of Oyakhilome and T.B. Joshua, was against his office as the leader of the fellowship.

Some pastors within the PFN fold, also found it wrong that the PFN leadership came out so strongly against Christ Embassy's Chris Oyakhilome and T.B. Joshua of The Synagogue of All National. Most of them believed that the PFN was strong enough to go spiritual and settle the matter rather than carry open campaigns against fellow pastors, an issue which they see as judgemental and against the tenets of the Holy Bible.

Again several young pastors in the PFN fold who are in tune with the miracles of Pastor T.B. Joshua and Oyakhilome, did not agree with the PFN leadership, when they lobbied and finally got the NT A and some other networks to ban all the TV miracles. That too, according to them, was judgemental and some of them even believed that the PFN leadership was afraid and envious of the two pastors and their powerful miracles.
Another big issue in the PFN crisis is the war of generations. Some of the elderly PFN Pastors do not approve of the way the younger pastors comport themselves or even run their ministries. Indeed, during the leadership of Bishop Mike Okonkwo, many of the younger generation were rearing to challenge the status quo.

Yet, they were kept under reigns because Bishop Mike Okonkwo, despite the allegations against his style of leadership, is credited as the one who actually made efforts to carry the younger and old generations along on all issues.

Presently though, things have fallen apart. The new generation are at daggers drawn with the old and there were moves two years back, to form a new umbrella organisation to rival the PFN. The movement which started at a small church in the Ojo area of Lagos , is still gathering steam as the younger was respected over the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), is now a shadow of itself.


Dr Paul Yongi Choo's visit in 2003 which was facilitated by Aso Rock did not go without sandals. Even though the organiser said they spent about N350 million, there were talks and allegations all over that the Korean pastor's ministry must have committed over that amount to the crusade.

But the very eye opener, the mother of all cash scandals that has turn the PFN
into pieces, is the recently concluded Dr. Benny Hinn Crusade scandal. PFN members fought themselves over the booty so much that they even carried propaganda making several Christians not to attend the three-day crusade.

Till date, the PFN fellowship is still staggering over the allegation that National President of the PFN Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor tried to snatch the coordinating rights from Lagos PFN boss. Bishop Lanre Obembe. As it stands now, only serious prayers can save the PFN.