Three-kilometer auditorium: Angry Nigerians blast Adeboye, say N1billion per person donation is criminal

Controversies have continued to trail the recent plans by the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye to erect a new auditorium, stretching three kilometres in length and breadth at the camp ground, along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which is expected to run into billions of naira.
Adeboye has been at the receiving end of harsh criticisms by angry Nigerians over what they tagged, criminality on the ongoing move to embark on the new project.
It would be recalled that Daddy G.O, as his teeming followers would call him, had at the just concluded 61st annual convention announced the church’s plans to erect a new auditorium stretching three kilometres in length and breadth at the camp ground, along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The cleric during the programme appealed for donations for the new auditorium, which would accommodate over one million people when completed.
“We need N1 billion from ten people. If you are one of them, please see my personal Secretary after we finish today,” Mr. Adeboye told the congregation.
“We also need N100 million from those who can afford it, if you are in that category. Please see my personal Secretary as well.
“Nonetheless, we need everyone’s involvement. If you can afford N50 million, N20 million, N5 million, N1 million to as low as N100, kindly make sure you participate.”
Report says Adeboye during the announcement asked those willing to donate to indicate their interest; hundreds of hands went up in the air.
The church divided prospective donors into three groups – Category A Brethren would pay N1 billion; Category B Brethren would pay N100 million; and Category C Brethren would pay N50 million and below.
It was reported that categories A and B are expected to meet with Adeboye’s Secretary.
However, this did not go down well with some members of the society as they took to the media to condemn the development, which they havr described as illegal.
Reacting, Executive Director of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, Debo Adeniran said there was no way someone without a criminal record could afford such a donation.
“It is most inappropriate because there is nowhere the progenitor of such a faith did such a thing. Jesus Christ never cajoled people to make unwarranted donation to the church,” said Adeniran.
“Nobody in one lifetime with no criminal record can donate such an amount,” Mr. Adeniran noted.
“Adeboye is fond of discussing miracles in his church, he never discussed misfortunes.
Also reacting, Secretary of Joint Action Front, JAF, Abiodun Aremu, rubbished Adeboye’s plans, saying that the church is already neck-deep in corruption and vanity.
He said, “Church leaders are fraternizing with corrupt political leaders. The church is being used as an agent of exploiting the poor.
“When we call for a revolution, one of the institutions where the anger of the people would be visited is the church,” Aremu added.
DailyPost also sampled the opinions of other Nigerians who did not only blast Adeboye but call for his immediate prosecution.