Biodun Kupoluyi, the publisher reveals it all,according to
him
After he wrote a story alleging that Rev Okotie is dating an
undergraduate named Miss Naomi Hoffman.
I
received the news from a man claiming he's representing the church that he has
been directed by the pastor of the church and members of Household of God
church that I should not come and worship with them. His reason, he said, was
premised on E24-7 magazine's expose - pastor Chris finds new love, says I
will not get married again, but may opt for surrogacy soon. I found
and
it confirmed our story. He actually made those statements and we reported it. I
think he did not think anybody could have known about his romance with the
girl, Naomi. He was caught off guard..but as a journalist, I owe our teeming
readers that responsibility. I feel fulfilled, though I will miss his
theatrics, his stage performances and verbosity.
My perception of the church and my respect for the man has changed. He is not a serious preacher of the gospel. The job of a good shepherd is to seek a lost sheep, not to ban a sheep or send away a sheep from the fold. It is only in our environment that these kind of things happen. Because I worship in a church, I can't write the story of the pastor even if the pastor is doing what is wrong? But the pastor and the church will hail me if I praise him or do a PR story for them.
Despite the ban, if journalistic duties calls I will go there. In fact we were there the following week after I was barred. It was the week he claimed Christians can do tattoos and plastic surgery. We went with a whole crew, looking forward to a show down. I'm a free citizen. I cannot be cowed. And I stand by my story on Naomi. That is not disputable!
