Veteran Nigerian artist Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has criticized Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the leader of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), over his recent apology concerning teachings on tithing. During the RCCG’s annual national youth convention at Redemption City, Adeboye admitted that his previous statements, which suggested that failing to pay tithes could prevent people from entering Heaven, were incorrect.
In his apology, Adeboye said: “I am going to be talking to everybody as soon as God permits me, I am going to apologise for making a mistake for saying that if you don’t pay tithe, you will not be making it to Heaven. That is wrong. That is not in the Bible. What the Bible says is to make peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see God.” His remarks have sparked mixed reactions, with some welcoming the apology and others questioning its sincerity.
Charly Boy, however, was unimpressed by the apology, suggesting that it would mean little unless Adeboye took concrete action to address the money collected through tithing. The entertainer took to social media to express his views, stating, “Your apology doesn’t mean sh*t unless you promise to return the tithe money they give you for mumu people wey wan bribe dia way to heaven.” He also criticized the behavior of church leaders in general, calling out what he described as hypocrisy within religious institutions.
“Stop giving your congregation ridiculous Lamba’s,” Charly Boy added, continuing to express his dissatisfaction with church practices. “Sometimes the nicest people you meet may have bodies covered with tattoos, while the most bitter, judgmental, envious, and wicked people all go to church on Sundays.” He referred to his long-standing skepticism of Adeboye’s teachings, recalling a past comment made by the pastor about people throwing away their TVs, which he had already found questionable.
Charly Boy concluded his statement with a scathing critique of pastors who, in his view, are more interested in controlling their congregations than in guiding them spiritually. “There is nothing worse than a fault-finding, finger-pointing pastor who is as fake as the blings of a wanna-be artist,” he said. “Apology? When you know exactly what you’re doing. Nonsense Dia Father’s.” His comments underscore the growing public discourse around the accountability of religious leaders in Nigeria.
