Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, stated on Sunday that he never advocated for or spoke on behalf of any candidate in the run-up to the country’s 2023 General Elections.
Oyedepo made the remarks while speaking to the congregation at the church’s headquarters, Faith Tabernacle, Ota, Ogun State, in response to a leaked audio between the cleric and the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on the eve of the presidential poll discussing the mobilisation of Christians in Kwara and South-West states to vote for him (Obi).
Meanwhile, while alluding to the allegedly stolen phone call between him and Obi, the priest stated that he never spoke to any group of individuals on behalf of any lawmaker.
He also stated that all political groups requested his blessings and guidance prior to the election, which he provided.
He asserted that no one in this world had ever told him what to say.
“I have never campaigned for anyone or spoken on anyone’s behalf, and I will not do so until I die,” Oyedepo said.
“No (political) party in this country has not come to me for prayers and counsel.”
“I advised them, and some of them did not take.” Those who took it saw outcomes; those who said no are still working on it.
“If you come back, I will tell you that nothing has changed,” he insisted.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
