There Is Nothing Bad InPastors Owning Private Jets – Odukoya

Pastor Taiwo Odukoya of of the Fountain of Life Church (TFOLC) has claimed that there was nothing bad in men of God owning private jets as it guarantees their safety.

According to Odukoya, his wife, Pastor Bimbo Odukoya, who died in a Sosoliso plane crash in 2005 could still be alive if she had a private jet.

“It’s been years, what is the outcome of the investigations into the Sosoliso air crash?” he queried.
Reacting to the incident of the arms deals in which about $9.3 million was seized by the South African Government from the leased private jet of the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria’s (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.

“If anybody whether you are a leader or not, and you do what is wrong, we won’t endorse it. I don’t agree that he was wrong.

“Nigeria is considered to be a country with the highest number of private jets, if not, we are known with a good number in the world. How do you handle that? For some, getting a private jet is for business. They give it to companies that will handle all aspects of maintenance including the hangar and then they run it as business. That was exactly what he did.

“Apart from that, why would such a person have a jet. You want me to tell you? Why would Baba Enoch Adeboye or Pastor David Oyedepo need a jet?

“My wife (late Bimbo Odukoya) is dead. She was going to preach when she crashed and died.

“Would we rather allow that our people die right all over Africa? What is annoying is that those who are criticizing Oritsejafor are Christians. We question their Christianity. You don’t want him to have a jet. You want another plane crash to kill him?

“My father in the Lord, Bishop Mike Okonkwo will travel by road from Lagos to Benin Republic and he would be delayed only to enter one rickety plane at the end of the day.

“We don’t want another person to die. If you want to buy Concord or space jet, buy it.

“It is the corruption in the system that allows people to get away with wrong doing,” he said.

Speaking to journalists at the launch of the Fountain Initiative for Social Development (FISD), a social enterprise being championed by his present wife, Mrs Nomthi Odukoya, Pastor Odukoya said, “we believe strongly that if you want change anywhere, you will be the change you seek.

“It’s okay to talk about problems but you have some sense of solutions.

“For over 20 years, our church has invested significantly in underdeveloped communities, creating jobs and businesses, providing affordable healthcare.

“The church has also invested in supporting students reach their academic dreams and providing lifelong skills.

“My unwavering conviction is that Nigeria has a great future based on our willingness to reach out beyond our comfort zones and in helping the less privileged realise that future.

“Our strategic focus and programmes has a critical role to play in that future.”