Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of Living Faith Church, has addressed recent backlash over the retirement of two prominent vice presidents, Bishops Thomas Aremu and David Abioye, who collectively served the ministry for several decades.
Speaking on Tuesday, October 15, at Bishop Aremu’s valedictory service at Winners Chapel in Orita Bashorun, Oyedepo urged critics to respect the church’s internal decisions, saying, “mind your business.”
News About Nigeria reported the announcement that the two Vice Presidents of Living Faith Church Worldwide will retire this October 2024, following the operational guidelines of the Liberation Commission, also known as the Mandate, which serves as the church’s constitution.
The farewell for Bishop Thomas Aremu was held yesterday October 15, at Living Faith Church in Basorun, Ibadan, Oyo State, while Bishop David Abioye’s valedictory service is scheduled for Friday, October 18, in Durumi, Abuja.
The church’s announcement of the retirements sparked debate online, with some Nigerians questioning the timing and implications of the decision.
In response, Oyedepo defended the move, stating that it is in adherence to the church’s longstanding policies.
“The Administrative Policy of 1998 was reviewed in 2001, and the Mandate of 2012 was revised in 2024,” he noted, explaining that such transitions align with the ministry’s operational guidelines.
Oyedepo also said that the church is dedicated to “divine principles” and scripture-based roles, quoting Genesis 49:26 to underline that pastoral roles are spiritual assignments rather than personal inheritances.
He encouraged his retired colleagues to prioritise their spiritual journey, advising, “There’s no such thing as the best today or tomorrow; what matters is your pursuit of God.”
The Bishop concluded by advising Aremu and Abioye to remain focused on the church’s mission and to ignore “baseless criticism.”
