In a Facebook post on October 19, Bernard attributed Bishop Abioye’s retirement to a high wire church politics centered around Bishop Oyedepo’s successor and its ongoing building project, The Ark.
In his piece titled, “THE SECRET BEHIND THE RETIREMENT OF BISHOP DAVID ABIOYE”, Bernard claimed Bishop Abioye’s retirement was done to make him relinquish his position as a trustee of the church and to avoid any form of co-ownership with Bishop Oyedepo.
Bernard further claimed that Bishop Abioye will be replaced on the chuch’s board of trustees by Bishop Oyedepo’s first son Pastor David Oyedepo Jr. He added that Pastor Oyedepo Jr will be appointed the next vice president of the church and is the heir apparent who will take over from Bishop Oyedepo.
Bernard’s post read: “The Living Faith Church is about to enter its Golden Age with the dedication of the biggest worship center in the world christened THE ARK.
“The runway project has already been approved by the Federal Government to commence making the take-off and landings of propeller planes, light aircrafts and private jets possible, hence the idea is to avoid any form of co-ownership with Bishop David Abioye to sole-ownership. The Three Trustees of the church hitherto were Bishop David Oyedepo, Mrs Faith Oyedepo and Bishop David Abioye.
“Bishop David Abioye having been retired as First Vice President has consequently relinquished his position as Trustee. This is the crux of the matter. If you understand the fundamentals of the Incorporation of The Registered Trustees of Churches and NGOs with CAC you will understand the high wire politics behind the retirement of Abioye.
“If Abioye had gone to court to challenge Oyedepo it would have plunged the church into a complicated situation.
“So, Bishop David Abioye can now be replaced on the Board of Trustees with Pastor David Oyedepo Jnr who presently is the Resident Pastor of the church headquarters and who will be ordained a Bishop during the commissioning of THE ARK in December and appointed Vice President of The Living Faith Church and hier apparent to the church presidency.”