At the recently concluded Annual General Conference of the C&S Unification Church of Nigeria, held at LOC, Lekki, Lagos, His Most Eminence Prophet Dr. Solomon Adegboyega Alao shared his thoughts on the significance of the conference, efforts to foster unity within the church, and his stance on idolatry, polygamy, and other national issues. In this interview, he addresses misconceptions about the church’s structure, religious governance, and the role of faith in leadership, ADEOLA OGUNLADE was there.
Can you clarify your statement in which you said that your goal is to see C&S becoming a one-indivisible church with one constituent operating on one certificate and one constitution? Does it mean there is a crisis in C&S?
Every church in Nigeria is expected to have a registration certificate, which affirms its legitimacy. Each year, churches are also required to file annual returns, which cost about N36,000 per church. Considering that we have over 1,000 churches, the cumulative cost is quite substantial. However, if we were to operate under one certificate and constitution, it would significantly reduce administrative costs. This is part of our efforts to unify the church and streamline our operations.
I can’t do the calculations because I’m not good at mathematics. But you know what I mean by 36,000 multiplied by 1,000, what that is? Why can’t we save that? That’s what I mean. So, we desire to operate under one constitution, under one law and one leadership.
We are not in crisis. Now, our faith is stronger and stronger. At our Annual General Conference, we had delegates from outside the Nigerian community. We had members from different parts of the world, including Arabs. Hence, I want to state here that we are not in crisis, but I want to foster unity among ourselves.
Our ultimate goal is to see C & S Unification Church of Nigeria becoming one indivisible virile church with the constituent churches operating on only one certificate and one constitution under one leadership. With all the efforts made so far, we are now having zero tolerance for idolatry and fetish practices. The days of exposing Aladura priests to the stomach infrastructure are numbered. C&S is no longer a Nigeria-based church, having been operating outside–Europe, the Americas, Canada and many countries in Africa.
You spoke about religious diversity and its impact on governance. What are your thoughts on the role of faith in leadership?
Faith should unite, not divide us. In the past, leaders from different faiths—like Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe—coexisted and worked together for national progress. However, today, religion is sometimes manipulated for political gains. I was satisfied when a Muslim-Muslim presidential candidate came up in 2023. I supported the move, and the reason is that fact it is not about religion but having men of goodwill and impeccable character that will change the course of Nigeria.
We need nationalists and not religious bigots who will serve the country and bring meaningful change. Nigerians want development and that is what matters in governance. Tough legislation should be put in place to deal with politicians employing religious bigotry, tribalism and ethnicity to advance their selfish interests.
Some are pushing the idea of bringing Sharia Court into the Southwest region.
Tafawa Balewa was a Muslim and Nnamdi Azikwe was a Christian, but religion never divided them. And we have customary courts, to deal with issues that relate to our customs. Those people who introduced Sharia, and said that anybody stealing goats should have their hands cut off, these same people stole millions, and billions of naira, and they are still going around with their two hands. What do you say about that? It was just a clever device to use religion to gain political power. And we don’t want that. There is no reason why we are not content with the customary court to deal with and advance our customs.
The issue of polygamy has been a subject of debate in religious circles. What is the stance of the C&S Unification Church?
The Bible does not encourage polygamy. Economically and morally, it is not practical in today’s world. While our forefathers may have practised polygamy due to ignorance or cultural norms, times have changed. Even in Islam, the Quran permits multiple wives only if a man can love them equally, which is nearly impossible. So, in C&S, we do not encourage polygamy. The new generation knows that you don’t need to teach anybody not to have more than one wife. The economy now dictates that one wife is enough. However, in those days people had seven, and ten children. The economy now decides that one is enough. So, time will kill those practices. Economically, it is not sensible. Biblical, it is not sensible. You may say all the five three names mentioned in the Bible have more than one wife. And you know what they went through.
The church has undergone significant changes over the years. What are some of the key milestones?
One of the greatest achievements is unifying the church under one structure. In the past, various factions engaged in practices that disturbed public peace, such as excessive use of candles and loud gatherings. Even the known Apoti-Eri is no longer fashionable today as some people claim that it is an idol.
The church had, in the recent past, been inundated with reports and complaints of some people involved in unchristian practices by the adoption of the Ark of Covenant, otherwise called Apoti Eri. The church rejects in its totality the practise and use of Apoti Eri among its members. Let me say this categorically that our church is a church of the 21st century and we have to live with the times. I tell you that Apoti Eri is completely abhorred in the church and we urge our members not to associate with anyone involved in it.
One of our greatest milestones is our commitment and thrives for evangelism. Winning souls for God and preparing them for heaven is our greatest commitment today. We are spending and doing all we can to tell the world about Jesus, the savior of the world. We are also making our impact in the educational sector and entrepreneurship so that our people can be gainfully engaged in productive ventures.
Today, we are more structured, and our congregations operate with discipline. Our goal is to have one church with one constitution, eliminating unnecessary financial and administrative burdens.
How is the church addressing the issue of youth unemployment?
This is a major issue that troubles my mind every day. We have a deluge of young minds that are unemployed. We recognize that unemployment is a national issue, and we are taking proactive steps. I always advise young people to not only pursue academic degrees but also acquire vocational and technical skills. To this end, we are working on establishing a university where graduates will be equipped with practical skills to start their businesses rather than seeking jobs. I say with all sense of honesty that none of our graduates in our university will look for jobs, but they will all be job creators. We are also going to give them start-up grants, if need be, to make their vision come through. We want our youths to be self-reliant, and this university will play a crucial role in achieving that vision.
Please, what is your take on the cost of governance in Nigeria?
I want to advocate for a return to the foundational principles established by Nigeria’s founding fathers—Sir Ahmadu Bello, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik of Africa), and Chief Obafemi Awolowo. These visionary leaders championed the country’s geopolitical structure, which consists of six zones designed to ensure balanced representation and prevent any single region from dominating governance. Revisiting their governance structures and leadership philosophies would help strengthen national unity, foster regional cooperation, and create a more equitable distribution of power and resources. Additionally, this approach could reduce recurrent expenditure, allowing for greater investment in infrastructure development. By embracing the original vision of balanced regional governance, Nigeria can promote sustainable growth and national cohesion.
What is the church’s vision for the future?
Our ultimate vision is unity—one church, one constitution, and one guiding principle. We are preparing our members for this transition through conferences and discussions. The upcoming centenary celebration is a significant milestone, and we hope to use it to further solidify our structure. With unity, faith, and dedication, we will continue to make progress.
