Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo has responded to the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) after the denomination condemned remarks he made about its founder, Apostle Ayo Babalola.
The Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) founder came under fire after a video of his sermon went viral.
In the clip, Fatoyinbo described Babalola as “highly anointed” but without wealth, saying the evangelist “had grace but died poor” and questioning the whereabouts of his children.
In a statement posted on Instagram on Thursday, Fatoyinbo said his comments had been “misconstrued” and insisted he never spoke ill of Babalola’s children.
“My attention has been drawn to a press release on statements credited to my person relating to the family of the late and highly revered Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, a most distinguished father of faith in Nigeria and indeed all over the world.
“I appreciate the fact that a church I personally love, admire and respect would be so kind and magnanimous enough to address the issues which have been misconstrued in an exemplary Christian manner. I am indeed grateful.”
The COZA pastor, who described himself as a beneficiary of Babalola’s ministry and grace, said: “At no time in the sermon did I refer to the children of the late Apostle and father of faith in bad light. I would never do that. The raw copy of the message is online and this can be verified.”
He hailed Babalola’s children as “shining examples of generational impact” and “good and present-day examples for children of visionaries to follow,” adding that he remains proud of their achievements.
Fatoyinbo apologised if any statement he made caused “distress, hurt or discontentment” to the CAC, Babalola’s family or associates, stressing: “I will never disrespect or speak of them in that manner either publicly or privately.”
The CAC had in its earlier statement described Fatoyinbo’s remarks as “insensitive and ill-informed,” warning that equating anointing or ministerial success with material wealth was biblically flawed.
“To equate anointing or ministerial success with material wealth is biblically flawed,” the statement signed by CAC’s director of publicity Pastor Ade Alawode read, quoting Luke 12:15: “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
The church accused the COZA leader of promoting a brand of prosperity teaching that “demeans people for not being wealthy” and could encourage greed in a morally challenged society.
It also dismissed claims that Babalola’s family had faded into obscurity, stating that two of his children, Eunice Ogini and Apeke Adeniyi, are alive, “blessed, fulfilled, and quietly serving the Lord” without ostentation.
Born in 1904, Babalola founded the CAC in 1941 after a split from the Faith Tabernacle movement. He was known for miraculous healings, mass conversions and church planting in Nigeria and the Gold Coast (now Ghana). He died in 1959 at the age of 55.
