5 controversies Nigerians will remember Bishop David Oyedepo for

Popular cleric, Bishop David Oyedepo is the founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners' Chapel.

He is known for his charismatic style of preaching and his financial war chest.

His time on the pulpit has, however, been fraught with challenges.

Over the years, Bishop Oyedepo has been criticized for his teachings, lifestyle, and the operations of his mega-church.

In this article, we take a look at some of the controversies that has engulfed his calling

1. Peter Obi’s leaked ‘religious war’ phone call with Bishop Oyedepo

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party during the 2023 general elections had a controversial phone conversation with Bishop Oyedepo. In the conversation, Peter Obi asked Bishop Oyedepo to help spread his political message to Christians in the South-west and parts of North-central.

Calling him 'daddy' in the leaked audio, Peter Obi described the election as a "religious war".

The leaked audio rocked the political space and showed how influential he is in Nigeria's politics.

Reacting to the leaked tape, Bishop Oyedepo confirmed that it was true and added that there was no party running in the last election that did not come to him for prayers.

2. Bishop Oyedepo sacked sacked 40 of his pastors

Recall that in July 2021, Bishop Oyedopo was in the news for sacking around 40 pastors of his church for not meeting up with their financial targets.

He also sacked them for not growing their respective parishes.

This act infuriated a lot of Nigerians, especially within the religious community. According to some Christians, it was not right for him to sack these pastors as only God has the grounds to do so.

Others also advised the aggrieved pastors to approach the Labour Courts and to sue the church.

3. Accumulation of wealth

Bishop Oyedepo is undoubtedly one of the wealthiest religious leaders in the world. His opulent lifestyle and ownership of several private jets have raised eyebrows, especially in a country ravaged by poverty.

Critics have questioned the source of his wealth and whether it aligns with the teachings of the bible, which emphasizes humility and selflessness.

Oyedepo has on several occasions defended the source of his wealth as he claims it is from God's blessings and the success of his businesses.


4. Investigation exposes how Bishop Oyedepo set up a company for wife, and children to evade tax

In 2021, Bishop Oyedepo was identified in the list of Nigerians who have set up offshore companies in the British Virgin Islands.

The leaked files were retrieved from some offshore services firms globally that set up shell companies and other offshore entities for clients, many of them influential politicians, businesspersons, and criminals seeking to hide their financial dealings.

According to the report, Oyedepo in August 2007 contracted the services of Business Centrum Limited, a London-based agent, to aid him set up a company in the infamous tax haven for him and his immediate family members.

5. Controversial statements

Over the years, Bishop Oyedepo has made several controversial statements during his sermons, public speeches, and interviews.

One of the most notable was his advise that women should submit to their husbands, a statement that drew widespread criticism for promoting gender inequality and reinforcing traditional gender roles.

Additionally, Oyedepo has been criticized for making inflammatory remarks about other religious groups and leaders, particularly Muslims. These comments have led to tensions and have been condemned as divisive and unbecoming of a religious leader.

BEB/NBA