The pastor who was allegedly transfixed in a shrine in Ketu community, Ayetoro, in the Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Wale Fagbire, has denied being struck by idols while destroying the shrine.
At a press conference on Thursday convened by the Christian Association of Nigeria, Ogun State, Fagbire told journalists that he followed a divine instruction he got in a revelation.
Fagbire, who presides over Christ Apostolic Church, (Ona-Iye) in Ayetoro, said he was instructed not to utter a word after destroying the shrines, adding that he was motionless after the ‘divine assignment.’
The embattled pastor had on Tuesday, September 20, 2016, told his congregation that he was directed by God to destroy all the shrines in Ketu community.
But, in his attempts to destroy the shrines, he allegedly got stuck in the first set of shrines he entered, prompting people in the area to raise the alarm.
Fagbire said he deliberately waited in the shrines for the idol worshippers to see him.
He said, “God told me that I should go to the shrines to bring out those things for the liberation of Ayetoro. God told me to do three things in the shrines.
“That when I get there, I should evacuate, step aside and watch the film. He said I should not say anything when people come out to see me. So, I did as instructed by God on that day.
“I got there around 5am and after I took out those things, God told me to wait and stay and I did.
“God also told me to keep quiet. It was not their gods that held me; it was the idol worshippers that struck me with their charms.
“When I was taken to the palace, I told them that all my actions were directed by God and not human beings or the church of God. Although, they tried many charms on me, none was effective. I am healthy. I followed the instruction of God that I should be quiet and they also know the truth.”
He said when he was taken to the palace of the Alaye of Ayetoro, Oba Abdulaziz, he narrated what happened.
Reacting to the report, the state Chairman of CAN, Bishop Tunde Akin-Akinsanya, said media report of the incident was exaggerated, adding that the briefing was to clear the misconceptions.
The Regional Coordinator of Yewa/Awori, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Apostle Lola Dada, alleged that the idol worshippers asked the pastor’s family to contribute N300,000 while the CAN was asked to pay N200,000, to appease the gods.
Dada, who spoke for the state CAN chairman, said, “He (Pastor Fagbire) was handed over to the police and the police charged the case to court.
“The idol worshipers withdrew the case from the court; they said they cannot take the son of their late Oba to court and the case was withdrawn the same day.”
He alleged that the idol worshippers went to Jesus Triumphant Army Church at Ayetoro which was headed by Pastor Wale Olojede, because the church was close to the shrines Fagbire destroyed.
He said, “They said it was the church that encouraged him to do what he did.
“So, the idol worshippers transferred the aggression to the church. They barricaded the church with sacrifice and palm fronds, but the Christian youths removed them.
“They asked the family of the pastor to pay N300,000 while CAN should bring N200,000 for the sacrifice to appease their gods, but, no money was given to them and peace has returned to the town.”
The police spokesperson, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed that the traditionalists had withdrawn the case.
Culled from The Punch News
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