By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Nigerian cleric Rev. Isaac Omolehin has triggered nationwide debate after declaring that Christianity in Nigeria lacks a central “father of faith,” insisting that leading church figures function only within denominational boundaries.
The statement, which resurfaced on April 19, 2026, came during a teaching where Omolehin criticised the structure of Christian leadership, arguing that the absence of a unified authority has contributed to fragmentation within the church.
He specifically referenced major Christian leaders including Enoch Adeboye, William Folorunso Kumuyi, David Oyedepo, and Daniel Olukoya, describing them as influential within their ministries but not overarching spiritual fathers of Nigerian Christianity.
“I hear fathers and I ask myself, which father? Nigerian Christianity has no father. Nigerian Christianity has no father. One young man was speaking so intensely recently about our fathers and mentioning Oyedepo, that our fathers should speak out. Our fathers should speak out about what is happening.
“Our fathers should speak out. That Baba Adeboye should speak out. That fathers of— he was mentioning fathers. And I’m asking myself, are these fathers of Christianity in Nigeria? Without sounding disrespectful, these are denominational leaders.
“One is trying to build 2 miles auditorium, one has 1 aircraft, another one want to have 3. The rivalry, the competition had no spiritual content, nothing.
“Don’t get me wrong, Baba Adeboye is a very successful, respected man of God, but he’s in Redeem. Kumuyi is in Deeper Life. Olukoya is in MFM. Does Olukoya know what is happening to a certain brother that is in Seventh-Day Adventist? Does Kumuyi know what is happening to a person that is in Jehovah’s Witness?
“But these are also Christians. So a person that will be our father cannot be a denominational person. He has to derobe himself of denominational doggedness and denominational extremism. Our father must be the father of all. Right now, Christianity in Nigeria has no father, and that’s why nobody is coming up to say anything.
“We have denominational fathers. They are no father of all. Who will be our father must be the father of those who are in Roman Catholic, be the father of those who are in Methodist, be the father of those who are in Anglican, be the father of those who are in Apostolic, be the father of everybody, because we are going to the same Heaven. When we get to heaven, you will not see a certain section that we are told these are redeemed people. Not heaven. When we get to heaven, you will not see a place where we are told this area is for deeper life people.
“When we get to heaven, it shall be one fold and one shepherd, one church, one pastor. His name is Jesus,” he said.
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