Christ Embassy Pastor, Oyakhilome Explodes “My Wife Is Now Wayward”…Keeps Bad Friends
Controversial man of God and stylish Pastor Chris Oyakhilome is in the news once more. This time around, it is the seeming fracas between him and his dear wife, Pastor Anita. This duo remains arguably one of the most famous couple-pastors in Nigeria. They are the presiding pastors of Love World Assembly, aka Christ Embassy Church. For years, they combined together to run this church with all the spiritual gifts in their arsenal and have taken the house of God to the international level. With thousands of worshippers trooping to their church during weekly and weekend services, Christ Embassy, as the church is fondly called, is rated as one of the most successful and biggest churches in Nigeria with considerable number of congregation. Pastor Chris himself ranks among the richest and most flamboyant pastors not only in Nigeria but in Africa at large. It suffices to say that Pastors Chris and Anita have been able to win souls for Christ in their own unique styles and are shining examples of godly couple.
But all these seem to be in the past; recently the media have been awash with an alleged breakup in this beautiful couple’s marriage. Latest information emanating from the United Kingdom, where the Oyakhilomes reside has it that the couple may have divorced or separated secretly. According to a report published in the UK Wednesday, 28 May 2014, most of the members of Christ Embassy Church in the UK where Pastor Anita holds sway, are beginning to show concerns on why the couple has not been seen together both in the church and outside the church lately. To show how concerned they are about the development and in an attempt to find answers to their worries, some members of the church have allegedly gonet to open a Facebook page which they tag ‘Where is Rev. Anita Oyakhilome?” Reports have it that those who are behind this Facebook page are strong members of the church who also live in the UK.
While demanding to know her whereabouts, the members stated on the Facebook page that they wonder what had become of the clergywoman. According to comments on the page, Rev. Anita has not been seen in the Christ Embassy Church where she pastors since November, 2013, and there were no explanations given as to her sudden disappearance and the church has been left without a pastor since then. In one of the posts on the page, the members want to know the real truth about her mental state as there are speculations she may not be really sound upstairs, while they are also wondering if their senior pastor had divorced the wife without the members knowing.
Having gone through the above gist, one would tend to be sympathetic with Pastor Anita, but Global News probed further to fish out the real cause of the brouhaha between the couple. In our investigation, Global News gathered that Pastor Chris is accusing his wife of being a wayward woman. Furthermore, the Edo-born pastor accused his wife, Pastor Anita of keeping bad friends and moving around with wrong advisers. This set of bad friends cut across all ramifications of life’s endeavours including business, politics and some of them could be found in the Christendom. We authoritatively gathered that it was this set of people who wrongly advised Pastor Anita to ensure that her husband catapulted her above some senior pastors she met in the church. These pastors include those that have been working with Pastor Chris prior to his marriage to Pastor Anita and of course, such a task would definitely be impossible and non-realistic.
Below is the summary of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s speech on 16/05/2014 in a meeting with all UK pastors and deacons at Christ Embassy, Bermondsey:
“I am here for your concerns about the ongoing domestic issue with my wife and I know it affects you directly, being the ones under her leadership. This is not an organisation or a political party, so it’s not a place for you to air your opinion or scrutinise what we do. We had a vision, started and you joined us. If you don’t like what we do, you can get out. Churches where members air their views never grow. Some pastors’ wives think when they marry a pastor they are equal to the pastor. My wife thinks so, as a matter of fact, Rev. Tom was her pastor before I married her and Rev. Ray and Evang. Owase were her leaders long before I married her. How come she thinks she’s senior to them now? I already started Christ Embassy before I married her. I didn’t marry her and said we should start Christ Embassy. I was already pastoring. I already set my sail and knew my direction before I married her. I only said come and help me. Be careful of the friends you keep. My wife keeps friends who bring out the worst in her and help her see the worst in people instead of keeping friends that will help her vision especially as the wife of a global pastor like me. Bitterness is prolonged and accumulated anger. My wife is always angry and bitter. Allegations are either false or twisted information. The current situation is not as a result of what I did or what I didn’t do. I didn’t do anything to have caused an upheaval. You don’t join a woman to fight her husband. I’m not teaching you what is wrong, at least I have two girls who will one day marry and I want to them to enjoy it.”
Additionally, with the influx of the story around town, there have also been accusations and counter accusations within the camps of the duo. While those in support of Pastor Anita accused Pastor Chris of having secret affairs with some female pastors and members of the church, others alleged that Pastor Anita must have been the cause of their alleged breakup due to her lack of closeness to her husband. However the story goes, Global News will keep watching developments and keep our esteemed readers updated with the latest.
