South South Ministers demand decentralization of Assemblies of God General Council

Against the back drop of the lingering leadership crisis engulfing General Council Administration of the Assemblies of God (AG) Nigeria, marginalization and gross injustice in ministers’ remuneration, unhealthy rivalry among ministers, inefficiency, and escalating administrative and financial malfeasance, the south-south zone of the Assemblies of God has called for the decentralization of General council administration of the church and announced the emergence of south-south General Council of Assemblies of God Nigeria.

Addressing a press conference at the hall of Assemblies of God Bible College, Uyo at the weekend, the zonal chairman, Central Working Committee South-South General Council, Assemblies of God, Evang. Nsikak Akpan, sandwiched by zonal secretary, Rev. Emmanuel Udoikpa, and other executive members including representatives of Assemblies of God South-South Zone, executive of members of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Akwa Ibom Chapter, explained that the decision to break away from the General Council administration was well thought out to create room for decentralization of General council administration and convey some degree of self-governance on all the zones under the General council administration.

Evang. Akpan observed that the General Council had grown too big, breeding inefficiency, becoming too expensive to run, promoting unhealthy rivalry, culminating in supremacy battle between General Superintendent of Assemblies of God Rev. Prof Paul Emeka and Generals on one hand, as well as executive committee members under Rev. Dr. Chidi Okoroafor on the other hand with no end in sight as the duo are enmeshed in fierce legal tussle, a development he observed, was painting Assemblies of God in bad light.

Evang. Akpan noted that the only panacea to the growing crisis enveloping the Assemblies of God in Nigeria, leading to the birth of two General councils, breeding fresh crisis in the church across the nation, was to decentralize and re-organize the General Council into six or twelve autonomous General Councils with little economic and administrative power at the centre. 

The zonal chairman who particularly described the new salary structure under the present arrangement as completely fraudulent to impoverish ministers at zonal levels, making them slaves and beggars, pointed out that decentralization of General Council would make for effective administration; eliminate court cases, promote regional development/investments, promote          self-governance at the zonal levels, reduce burden of crises/cases on General Council and Executive Committee Members, eliminate poor remuneration of ministers, bring about great awakening and revival, thus returning the lost pride and glory to the fold with attendant increased brethren’s loyalty to the denomination, even as the new General superintendent would have the leverage to fashion out workable constitutions for their people based on their peculiarities.

According to the zonal chairman, given the decentralization and re-organization, proceeds raised at the zonal General Council programmes would be used to develop the zones, thus putting paid to the growing cries of marginalization. 

Announcing January 22, 2016 as the date for the take off of the south-south General Council of assemblies of God Nigeria and the inauguration fixed for March 6, 2016, the zonal chairman maintained that they had concluded arrangement to stand on their own as south-south General Council of Assemblies of God Nigeria. 

He called on the mother General Council to set a date not exceeding three months from the take-off south-south General Council for the sharing of available assets, while minister’s pension money be worked out and transferred to their ministers’ pension account under the south-south General council Caretaker Committee. 

The press statement addressed to Rev. Dr. Chidi Okoroafor and Executive Committee members and copied to world Assemblies of God Fellowship, Assemblies of God USA, General Superintendent, Assemblies of God, USA Assemblies of God Alliance in Africa, Rev. Prof. Paul Emeka, General Superintendent among others called on factors and groups, notably Emeka’s or Chidi’s to sink their differences and merge under various regions and zones as spearheaded by the south-south General Council for the much elusive peace to reign in Assemblies of God.    Those appointed into South South General Council Caretaker Committee included: Rev. Dr. Innocent Paul, Chairman, Rev Edet Essien-Vice Chairman, Rev. Amb. George Anyin-Secretary, Rev. Chrysantus Sampson-Treasurer, Rev. Saviour Nyong, member, Rev. Samuel Elijah – Member, Rev. S. T. Thomas – Member,  Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Udoka – Member, Rev. Gabriel Ememugwen – Member, Rev. Samuel Akpan Charlie – Member, Rev. Edem Nyong – Member, Rev. Ofonime Ibangaetor – Member, Rev. Emmanuel Udoikpa – Member