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The Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners’ Chapel, David Oyedepo, has explained his presence at the meeting where a reconciliation was brokered between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his then deputy, Atiku Abubakar.
He has been criticised for being part of the meeting in Abeokuta last Thursday but in his Sunday sermon titled: “Covenant day of open doors” Oyedepo said his goal is to secure a glorious destiny for Nigeria.
Bishop Hassan Kukah of the Catholic diocese of Sokoto and renowned Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, were also criticized for attending the reconciliatory meeting.
On Sunday, Oyedepo said he is an apolitical and peace-seeking leader.
“I have never belonged to any political party and will never belong to one. Whatever party you are in, that is where I am in. There is no party without winners in it. If you get to any party and you don’t see any winner in it, you better check out of there. Even the one that have not been formed, winners are there.
“Our goal is to secure the glorious destiny of our nation by paying whatever price it requires. I have never taken any dime from any political candidate in my life. I am a mediator. The price of peace is far cheaper than the cost of war so what we are saying is let us talk this over don’t let us exchange blows.
“Let us be mature and be sincere. Let’s give chance to reason and let the wicked turn from their wicked ways. We have to do it by appealing to people’s reasoning. Does anybody here want to see war? The 30 months war we fought, the effect keeps lingering. You won’t see war again in the name of Jesus.”
Mr Oyedepo was pictured on Thursday with other religious leaders who accompanied Atiku to the residence of Obasanjo who had earlier vowed not to support the PDP flagbearer. After the meeting, the ex-president forgave Atiku and endorsed him for president.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) while reacting, however said the endorsement will not stop President Muhammadu Buhari from winning the 2019 presidential election.