Within the Pentecostal fold, the rumour mill was also abuzz with reports Bishop Peter Okoduwa, Founder of the Dispensational Gospel Mission International Incorporation, allegedly collected N2 million from the Central Working Committee of the Benny Hinn Crusade towards mobilizing PFN Pastors and cChurches towards the Crusade.

Not only that, photocopies of the one-page letter which he wrote to request for the money also circulated in the media. But here is Bishop Peter reactions to the story .

"Yes, I wrote a letter asking for money to mobilize PFN members but I was not given" was how he put it. He then went into fuller details of how it all happened.

Even at that, Bishop Okoduwa still explained that he is not ready yet to explode, by telling the full story of his involvement in the Crusade. "All I am saying to you is to explain that contrary to what people are saying, I did not receive any money. I have read the stories on the Benny Hinn Crusade and the attempts being made to drag my name into it.

"Let me tell you for your information that I was part of the original plan to bring Benny Hinn to Nigeria. I hope you know that I am the Chaplain of the Ota Farm of the President. Our plan was to bring Evangelist Benny Hinn to Nigeria for a Crusade and we felt we needed some Presidential involvement.

So, I took Pastor Obembe with me to see the President in Aso Rock. We were mindful of the fact that the President is the President of everyone- Muslims, Christians.

But surprisingly, once the letter inviting Benny Hinn was out, Obembe collected it and took off to Texas to meet Benny Hinn to discuss with him. We agreed that the invitation to Benny Hinn should be in the name of PFN.

But we knew it would be easier for us to get Benny Hinn to come to Nigeria not only for a national crusade, but for a National Healing Prayer Conference, whilst holding Special Prayer sessions with the President in Abuja . I was the one who led the delegation of Pastors to Aso Rock to meet President Obasanjo.

We really wanted Benny Hinn to come, but we knew he will not come if the President does not throw his weight behind the project. We were able to convince the President to support us.

But surprisingly, once the letter inviting Benny Hinn was out, Obembe collected it and took off to Texas to meet Benny Hinn to discuss with him. We agreed that the invitation to Benny Hinn should be in the name of PFN.

After he agreed to come, an arrangement was reached for money to be advanced to Obembe to start work. I got to know when the sum of $200, 000 was first sent to him and then another $400,000, totalling about $600,000. When we asked him, he denied it. He said he had no budget to work with yet.

"At some point during the preparation for the crusade, I was made a Coordinator of the Organising Committee and we were to monitor the income and expenditure. We wanted the event to be big, even bigger than what we had planned.

"After Benny Hinn wrote to tell us to let him (Obembe) handle it, we discontinued, but we were still involved in mobilising for the Crusade.

There is no way Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the National President of the PFN would not have been involved. Remember that he has a personal relationship with Benny Hinn. He had invited him to Warri in December, so they are close.

On account of what I was doing for them, I requested for financial support from them in April. Interestingly, they themselves were the ones who asked me to make a request for the money. Both Obembe and Pastor Oyitso asked me to ask for money, but that I needed to put it into writing because John Wilson would have to approve it.

They said I should not be expected to spend my money. So, I wrote asking for the sum of N2million to mobilise PFN Pastors and their church members. But nothing was ap­proved for me. As I am, N1.00 was not given to me.

I travelled on the 8th April, 2005, the day I wrote the letter and I came back on April 19. But surprisingly, photocopies of that letter had been sent to all Yoruba leaders of PFN for them to see what I was asking for. That was when I knew they were mischievous. I asked for N2 million.

Yes. But I was never given one kobo. If I had been given the money, the crusade would not have been as scanty as it was. We would have mobilised more Christians to come.

Even Archbishop Oyeniran was to have given me N500, 000 but I also didn't collect it. I withdrew from the Crusade. I wanted to mobilise Pastors and their congregation, but I changed my mind when I saw their behaviour.

The money I asked for was money to work. But nobody gave me money. I hope you know that the National PFN is investigating Pastor Obembe".


Does he not think all of these will divide PFN at the national level?

"No, it won't. There is no division. We remain united. Pastor Obembe would want us divided, but we won't be divided. I led the Federal Government delegation to Israel this year. I am a member of the National Advisory Council.

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor was an elected, not a selected President. Don't for­get that I am supposed to coordinate the Crusade, because I was made the National Coordinator. They (Obembe and Oyitso), advised me to write the letter. I knew at that time that Obembe was setting me up.

Don't forget that I am trained. I am a re­tired Police Officer. They asked me to ask for the money. I did. But I was not given. Pastor Badejo was shocked when I told him. Oyeniran offered me N500,000 but I turned it down. The truth is if I took it, I will tell you I took it.

"We have set up a Committee to probe Obembe and report back on June 2. The issue of PFN being divided is Obembe's wish. He is the one trying to present the picture of chaos. Don't forget that Obembe contested and lost. Ayo Oritsejafor won by 7 votes, Pastor Badejo came 2nd by 4 votes, Pastor Obembe came 3 rd by three votes and Pastor Abina came 4th with 0 vote ".

On the allegation that he spear­headed the removal of Bishop Okonkwo as the National President of PFN

"Yes. It was because he overstayed in office. Every­body stays 3 years in office. He wanted another 3 years to the two terms he had and wanted to make it 11. And as for his actual removal, really, I didn't remove him, he was voted out. An election was held and he lost.

Obembe was the one talking about having too many Edo Pastors at the top echelon. But Ayo is Delta not Edo. Anyway, Ayo won. Naturally, you don't expect Bishop Okonkwo to be happy with me. I issued a lot of statements to the Press. PFN asked me to apologise for going to the Press.

Even Bishop Okonkwo has forgiven me. He prayed for me even. They said I should put it in the Press which I did. Didn't you see the one page Press Release? The truth is that Pastor Ayo was not appointed. He was elected".

Culled from City People