By Dipo Olowookere
Mr Leke Adeboye, son of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has apologised for describing some pastors of the church as goats.
The younger Adeboye had rushed to social media to lambast some clerics of the church who went ahead to preach to their congregation after his father had preached.
It is a ritual in RCCG for Pastor Adeboye, who is fondly called Daddy G.O. to preach to the congregation every first Sunday of the month, which is marked as Thanksgiving Sunday.
All parishes of the church hooks up to the headquarters to listen to their father in the Lord but Mr Leke Adeboye was angry that some pastors still preached after Pastor Adeboye had delivered his sermon for the day.
He said these pastors are not sons but “stubborn goats.”
His comment infuriated many people, both church members and others, who said he was wrong for calling men of God goats.
After pressure from different quarters, Mr Leke Adeboye has finally apologised for the statement, asking for forgiveness, though he insisted that he never intended to insult the pastors or malign them.
In a short statement posted on his social media handle on Thursday, he stated that he will use this period for sober reflection, having been disciplined by the church leadership.
“I wish to use this medium to tender my unreserved apologies for the statement made from my social media handle about some of our esteemed pastors.
“The disciplinary measures taken by the mission is well received and this period will be used to reflect and introspect.
“I wish to crave your indulgence to please forgive my extreme statement which I wish to emphasise was absolutely not intended to insult and malign.
“I also wish to apologise profusely to the entire leadership and pastors of our beloved church who might have been hurt by this statement.
“I remain humbly yours in God’s love and mercies,” he said.
Mr Leke Adeboye is not new to controversies as he had always come under heavy criticism, especially for his social media posts. He is seen as the direct opposite of his father, who is calm and free of controversies.