The governor of Nasarawa, Abdullahi Sule, has revealed how he was advised to shut down Goshen City of the Living Faith Church Worldwide in Masaka after Bishop David Abioye urged Christians to vote for Christian candidates in the last general elections in the state.
The governor also revealed he was also given counsel to order the arrest of the famous preacher and author.
62-year-old Bishop Abioye is the First Vice President of the Living Faith Church Worldwide.
He is the Senior Pastor of the Abuja church, though located in Nasarawa and popularly called Goshen City, with over 30,000 worshippers.
“If anybody tells you now that there is no religion in politics, they are deceiving you. Don’t hide it; vote for your faith.
Till tomorrow, I will vote for my faith. I won’t vote for someone who will slaughter me.” Abioye told the congregation weeks before the election.
Speaking during the summit, Governor Sule maintained that contrary to the advice, he refused to order the arrest of the Bishop.
The governor made this assertion while delivering a speech at the just concluded 2023 Peace And Development Submit for Young University Students in Abuja on Tuesday.
His words: “Indeed, for those of you who remember, we have most of the major religious organizations in Nasarawa State, like the Goshen City at Kilometer 36, which is presided by the respected Bishop David Abioye, who once released a video just before the elections asking: why can’t a Christian be a governor in Nasarawa State.
“He then urged Christians to vote only for Christian candidates. Some people came and advised me, let us check whether that church has paid their taxes; otherwise close the church.
“They said let us send security to arrest him (Bishop Abioye) for making those kinds of statements, but I said no.”
Governor Sule is currently battling to save his seat as the Nasarawa governorship election tribunal recently declared David Ombugadu of the Peoples Democratic Party as the rightful winner of the March 18 guber election in the state.
