The controversial General Overseer of Christ Praying Assembly, (CPA) in Ajao-Estate, Pastor King seem to be full of contradictions. In one breath, he presents a picture of a true man of God humility, humble disposition to issues and intelligence. In another breath, you would be confronted by a brutish, crude and seemingly hash individual. This interview published in Vanguard, which was conducted inside the confines of the dreaded cell at the improved State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Panti, Yaha, turned out to show Rev. King in his true elements. Excerpts: |
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Tell us your name?
My names are His Holiness, the Most Hon. (Dr). Rev. King.
How old are you?
I refer to myself as an adult. I don't usually mention my age. I usually answer adult.
Can we know your background?
My biological parents are from Achina in Aguata LGA in Anambra State, Nigeria.
How was growing up like?
I had my premier primary school in Onitsha , I went to special science school, I went to Nnamdi Azikiwe University. I did my NYSC in Adamawa State .
After that, how did you get your calling?
My mother is a prophetess, my dad a chapel leader and businessman. My mother grew up as a prophetess and I was born as a prophet. I have been serving God from childhood. I began preaching at the age of four (4). Regardless of whatever I must have done. I grew up in a typical solid Christian background.
Was it Catholic or Anglican or which one?
My parents were Anglicans so we are Anglican in church and fellowship with all Christian Praying Band that time. The issue of born again is just born again. Now, by the age of 18, 19, I was confirmed as a cross bearer in the church.
Who continued it?
Church ministry now. I remained even a visioner in ACBP (All Christian Boys Praying Band). Now, the issue of CPA. Now in 1999 when CPA started. CPA church worldwide started.
Who founded it and where?
I am the founder in Ajao Estate Lagos. The practices started that time but the actual day when we said okay let us now go to church was January 31st 2000. We have been serving God all along.
How many are you in your family?
I am the first son.
How many brothers or sisters do you have?
Why do you need all these? It is very important... Okay 8.
What are they doing presently?
Businessmen are there, students are there, married people are there.
Are they members of your church?
From number one to the last. Only one. Ok. That one because she doesn't live in Lagos but attends where she lives.
How widely spread is your church?
We have branches in South America , Brazil , USA , the issue of London , we have members. But we have not actually established a contact. And some other places I don't want to mention. Coming to Lagos, in the 21 LGA of Lagos , we have the "Nigerian for Christ for all nations" that is our Church.
A subsidiary of your church or ministry?
No. That is our evangelical name.
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Dr. King does not condone sin, as simple as that. I flog a lot because of sin.
I have canes. If husband and wife mess up by misunderstanding themselves, I have to settle the case. But the person at fault, I must flog him. If he refuses to be flogged, let him take his particulars and leave the church. |
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Now tell us what brought you here?
Yes, on Sunday the 23rd of July 2006, after the church service, I went to my office straight. And invited my worker, Chiazor to the office. So, from that office now, we heard "Kam, Kam" (knock) at the church office gate.
Is that a knock?
Yes. So, I told him to open the gate. So he went there and came back and said it was policemen so I said open the gate now. So they came in and said they were looking for the pastor, and I said which pastor, they said the pastor here so I said I am the one. They said you are under arrest, I said no problem. They were hefty men with guns and rifles. But by then I already knew that I don't have any police case so I didn't bother. So they took me and Chiazor. Chiazor is one of my daughters in the church premises.
Your biological daughters?
I am a Reverend.
Okay, go ahead.
They took me and that Chiazor (she is here now). So they took us but didn't tell us what offence we have committed. But at a time, I said Chiazor, do you have any police case? She said no. I said okay, I asked them because they were trying to be brutal, I said no matter what, what did we do? They told me I poured petrol on 3 members of my church and burned them that they are witches. That was one. I didn't understand what they meant but (giggles) I didn't laugh. It was not funny to my ears but then I started going with them. When they wanted to keep me here, I said I will stay here but what exactly did I do? Who is the complainant?
Not even arrest warrant, no invitation and I didn't find it funny anyway but even this suit I'm wearing now, they are from church service till today.
But did you pour petrol on anybody?
Why, why?
What happened?
In our church, we had big wedding, 20 people wedded, mass wedding and we were just extremely happy because they were too many. So, we dismissed as usual because in our church we usually dismiss very late. If we go by 7p.m. Sometimes it becomes early because we really have a lot of things doing in the church alright, so, because we do healing and whatever it takes time. Now, I told them that was all, and I now drove to the Church office because I had an information to pass to Chiazor. So, before they came, nobody pointed an accusing finger on me, they said where is the pastor, I said I'm the one.
But what happened to your members that were burnt?
Wait now, I'm coming. Now church office is up to 1 km or 2km away from church, very far office, so there is nothing like anything. Nothing happened in the church, nothing happened in the church office as well. Now, when they assessed me and I just said nothing happened. They said okay if nothing happened, wetin happen today? I said we did mass wedding. I no dey eat rice for wedding. So I didn't eat. They were insulting themselves, they said one thing or the other, they said wait , this one wey they say you pour petrol------ witches, wetin happen?, person burn for church ? I say person no bum for church. I know where you are driving at but just don't call church there, don't even call church office. Any incident of fire happened in my domestic house, very simple.
Not office, not church
At all
How did it happen?
That evening before Sunday, I addressed my daughters, when I say my daughters, you know what I mean. |
"... Let me just give you details of what happened. In my domestic house towards evening, I heard shouts of 'daddy'. The person was not calling that I should come, but screaming 'daddy daddy', you know that sort of thing. So, I ran down from upstairs in my pyjamas. When I came down, I saw flame, fire on my daughter, Ann. This is a daughter that before she came to live with me, it was approved by the whole church in November 2005. The disciplinarians approved her that she is qualified to serve the G. O. So, she was the person engulfed with fire..." |
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How many daughters do you have?
They are more than 2,000 now, understand what I mean. Now some of my daughters, I read in the newspaper about fornication and all that.
And witch craft?
I didn't read that one. I'm a preacher, I know that witchcraft is against the law of the Almighty God. Anything wickedness is witchcraft. If somebody is a liar, he is bewitching God. He doesn't want the kingdom of God to expand. God will not condone lie. Dr. King does not condone sin, as simple as that. I flog a lot because of sin. I have canes. If husband and wife mess up by misunderstanding themselves, I have to settle the case. But the person at fault, I must flog him. If he refuses to be flogged, let him take his particulars and leave the church.
How many strokes do you give?
May be one or two, but it generally depends on my mood. Because some people just demand for my cane. If they are sick, they demand that I flog them.
Let me just give you details of what happened. In my domestic house towards evening, I heard shouts of 'daddy'. The person was not calling that I should come, but screaming 'daddy daddy', you know that sort of thing. So, I ran down from upstairs in my pyjamas. When I came down, I saw flame, fire on my daughter, Ann. This is a daughter that before she came to live with me, it was approved by the whole church in November 2005. The disciplinarians approved her that she is qualified to serve the G. O. So, she was the person engulfed with fire. When I came down, one man was beating the fire down with some other people. But I didn't bother to look at the other people.
So, the man, Kosiso Chukwu, opened the tap, nothing happened. But before long, the fire went off and I took her to the car. I said what is the cause of this fire, Kosi "was looking at me" (spoke in Igbo) Is it because I said before I go to hospital and come back, if anyone of you will not tell me what caused this fire, I will deal with him. Before I went to hospital and came back, they had run away from the house.
How many of them were there?
At that particular evening, I know their names Hope ran away, Jessica ran away, Vivian ran away, are you hearing me now? I came in from the hospital. The only person that was there that did not run away was the wife to Chiejina. Now, when I came back I was horning at the gate, nobody. When I was going to hospital, sister Kelechi dey inside the car; Mr. Chiejina is also there and Kosiso, his own is that he was beating down the fire and the fire touched him. We went to First City Hospital . It is not so far from my home but very far from the office. I said let me take her to one hospital in Isolo.
As Kosi was about to carry her, I said no, no, let me carry her because it is over divine something. So, I carried her. All my body was filled with oil because we succeeded in quenching the fire with oil. I was the person that drove her to hospital and brought her down. She was walking. She was well burnt. Seriously, but she was walking. Look at Kosi, he drove in with Chiejina, so I carried Ann with Kelechi. Kelechi was the one that was shouting 'Daddy' while Kosi drove Chiejina.
Are you married?
"I am alone" (Igbo).
So, why are you not married?
I am a messenger" (Igbo) I am not yet old. Do you know how old I am? (Igbo). If somebody should say that I sprayed petrol on her, then, she can as well claim that I used to have sex with her because I fight fornication.
Why must they forge all these things against you? Do you have enemies in the church?
Many people join churches for a lot of motives. Some may join church with the intention of denting my name. Very simple. These are criminals. You were asking me about fornication.
Yes.
This is a man that his first message since he was born has been against fornication and then if I told them that if they don't stop fornicating, that they won't continue in the church. Are you following. I don't deny that I strongly speak against fornication or flog them or deal with them and this and that, but the issue of spraying petrol to burn somebody is not true.
When last did you have sex?
You should answer that question" (Igbo).
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