From Monday, February 4th, thousands of ministers and church leaders under the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) will gather in Uyo, the capital of Akwa-Ibom, for the biennial conference of the body.
Though the conference will feature many ministrations and sessions, most of them will be more interested in the closing ceremony when the new national president of the body will be unveiled.
The outgoing president, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, whose tenure ends at the conference, many believe, took the bloc within the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to greater heights.
Under him, PFN gained more national prominence, culminating in his emergence in July 2010 as the first pentecostal leader of CAN in a keenly-contested election.
The achievements of Oritsejafor as leader of the body has raised the stakes for those interested in the seat.
Investigations revealed that the leading contenders for the post are: National Secretary, Pastor Wale Adefarasin; National Vice President (South West), Bishop Wale Oke, renowned evangelist, Uma Ukpai and a member of the National Advisory Council (NAC), Bishop Felix Omobude.
Culture of secrecy
None of them, however, was willing to confirm interest in the seat.
This is because emergence of leaders in the pentecostal body is always well-guarded. Unlike CAN or even secular politics, there is no open campaign in the PFN.
Leaders in the body also do not go through election. Rather, the National Advisory Council (NAC) determines who becomes who in the PFN.
The influential body consists of past presidents and notable pentecostal leaders in the country. Though it is considered an advisory body, NAC wields enormous influence over the leadership and composition of PFN.
NAC members intervene at crucial moments in the body, making critical pronouncements that go unchallenged.
Sources said members of the powerful organ are already beaming the searchlight on who to succeed Oritsejafor.
It was gathered that Adefarasin remains the biggest contender, having succeeded in stabilising the Lagos chapter of PFN, which was rocked by serious crisis some years in the aftermath of the Evangelist Benny Hinn fiasco.
Adefarasin not only stabilised Lagos PFN but also restored confidence in the body, bringing back many members who left in annoyance.
Tales from the camps
Those who believe in him say he is the man who can get the job done for now in National PFN.
One of them said: “Pastor Wale is calm, cool-headed and reliable. He is the only one that can bring order and sanity to the body.
“Don’t forget he sanitised Lagos PFN and recorded many achievements without being abrasive or rubbing it in on anyone.”
Those against the urbane preacher, however, said he lacks the muscle to assert discipline and impose sanctions on erring members.
According to one of them: “Yes, he is a good man but being good is never enough for a complex organisation like PFN. We need someone who can put his foot down and ensure discipline across board.”
Unconfirmed reports said he is the preferred candidate with the backing of the incumbent.
Firmness might be Adefarasin’s weak point but it remains the strongest qualification of foremost evangelist, Uma Ukpai. Ukpai, they say, is about the only founding father of the PFN that has not led the body.
“With someone like him, you can be sure we are home and dry. He is a source of inspiration, strength and steel for upcoming ministers.
“He is a man everyone will willingly surrender to because of his stature, disposition and wide contacts,” a source stated.
Those against him, however, said he is too old to lead the body.
“He is an elder that should sit back and watch the younger ones work. He should just concentrate on his crusades and leave politics for the tough-minded,’’ another source said.
Besides, many said he does not have a church, which makes it difficult to lead the PFN.
A member of the anti-Ukpai camp said: “We have a history of choosing church leaders. It would be a departure for someone like him to emerge. Without a church, how can he fund the organisation?”
Going by charismatic and friendly appeal, Bishop Wale Oke of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries Ibadan would easily emerge the new PFN leader. He is also perceived as close to Oritsejafor and government leaders.
But many say he will not get the nod because of undisclosed issues bordering on the past.
For Bishop Felix Omobude, many say he will be a worthy leader, giving his long years of experience in the ministry and fatherly disposition.
He is seen as a man that younger and older elements in the body will easily submit to. But sources close to him say he might not be interested.
“The man will just face his ministry because he is already winding down after years of service in the vineyard,’’ a competent source stated.
The flamboyant general overseer of House on the Rock, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, is also said to be eyeing the office.
But many dismissed his ambition as misplaced, stating that it is not yet the turn of his generation.
The younger Adefarasin was removed few years ago as the National Youth Leader of the PFN under hazy circumstances.
It is believed that the forces that removed him will never allow the energetic preacher return to any leadership office in the PFN.
There are talks the National Vice-President, Rev (Mrs.) Mercy Ezekiel, will also be in contention.
But it was learnt power brokers in the body will never hand over the leadership of the PFN to a woman.
“Mama has done her best. It is time for her to step out graciously. There is no way a woman will lead us. How will men submit to a woman as the leader?
“Forget gender discrimination. The Bible is clear. A woman cannot lead in the multitude of men in such a strategic body as PFN,” a source hinted.
There is no doubt whoever is anointed by the NAC will get the post. He will surely have many fences to mend before settling down to business.
