Nigerian hospitals are glorified mortuaries – Bishop Wale Oke

Bishop Wale Oke

Founder of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Bishop Wale Oke, has slammed the Nigerian government for dabbling into religious issues instead of facing the many challenges confronting the country. The outspoken preacher was reacting to the law by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, which stipulates 20 years tenure for Christian heads.

Speaking with Punch, the Ibadan-based cleric said the federal government should look into the country’s hospitals, which he described as ‘glorified mortuaries’ and other issues instead of chasing after pastors.

He said, “Let the government face its duty. Electric Power supply in Nigeria is epileptic. We run the cathedral on power generators every day. Our budget for fuel is N.8m every month. Let the government do something about that. Our roads and infrastructures are in bad shape. These are the jobs of the government. That is why we voted them in.

“The hospitals are glorified mortuaries, while our politicians travel abroad to receive medical attention because they can afford it with taxpayers’ money. They do all these while poor citizens die in our badly funded hospitals. The unemployment rate is unacceptably high. Our youths go to school but they do not have jobs to do. There is corruption in government and everywhere. Let government address the situation instead of dabbling in spiritual matters.

“Spiritual leaders are not politicians. They are faithfully serving God and giving hope to masses where the government has failed them.”

On the controversy surrounding the resignation of Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Bishop Oke said the cleric only appointed Nigerian overseer and not a successor as widely believed.

He added, “Pastor Enoch Adeboye is a seasoned man of God, a man imbued with tremendous wisdom, a man of great grace. He and members of his council would have thought it through before taking such a decision. It is not a whimsical or impromptu decision.

“Like I pointed out to you earlier, it was a decision that had been in motion long before the FRC regulation came into force. R.C.C.G is in over 190 countries of the world. The decision was therefore taken to overhaul the administration of the church and position it for greater productivity.

“So advising Adeboye to reclaim his title is not relevant, because he remains the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Worldwide. Let me reiterate for point of emphasis that Adeboye has not resigned, he has not stepped aside, he has not appointed a successor, he has only appointed an overseer for Nigeria.”