The Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) has taken a swipe at Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) over recent comments he made about the late Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, describing them as “biblically flawed” and “insensitive.”
In a statement signed by Pastor Ade Alawode, Director of Publicity for the Church, CAC said it ordinarily would not respond to social media controversies but considered it necessary to address Fatoyinbo’s claims for the sake of truth and legacy.
Fatoyinbo, in a message trending on YouTube, acknowledged that Apostle Babalola was highly anointed but “had no money” before sarcastically asking, “Where are his children?” The CAC spokesperson said the remark not only misrepresented the life and ministry of the Church’s first General Evangelist but also promoted an erroneous link between material wealth and spiritual anointing.
Quoting Luke 12:15, the statement read: “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” It accused Fatoyinbo of encouraging what the Bible calls Simony — the monetisation of spiritual gifts — and challenged him to explain where his prosperity message is found in Scripture.
Setting the record straight, Pastor Alawode said Apostle Babalola, called into ministry in 1928 at age 24, was a man of great impact who supported education, cared for the poor, and lived sacrificially without exploiting the pulpit. He added that Babalola lived in a befitting home, drove one of the best Ford Jeeps of his era, and was recognised by dignitaries, including being an honoured guest during Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Nigeria in 1956.
The Church further clarified that Apostle Babalola’s children, Mama Eunice Wuraola Ogini and Apeke Adeniyi, are alive, blessed, and quietly serving God in their respective ministries. “They are not loud, ostentatious, or greedy,” the statement said.
Pastor Alawode stressed that the true measure of anointing lies in sacrificial service, not material possessions, quoting Romans 14:17: “For the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
He concluded by urging preachers to avoid promoting greed in a morally struggling nation. “May God give us all the grace to rightly divide the Word of Truth, and to walk in humility, reverence, and godly wisdom,” he said.
