COZA’s Pastor Fatoyinbo apologizes over viral clip comments on late Apostle Babalola after rebuttal from CAC

Senior Pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Rev. Biodun Fatoyinbo has issued a public apology to the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) and the family of the late Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola following his controversial remarks about the maiden General Evangelist of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), late Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola in a recent sermon.

Speaking in a sermon video that went viral online, Fatoyinbo described Babalola as “anointed… so anointed” but claimed that “all the grace just went like that” because he “had no money.”

Recounting some of the miraculous works of the revered cleric during his lifetime, Pastor Fatoyinbo recalled an incident in which a python allegedly dried up after crossing Babalola’s leg.

“I was studying recently about what Apostle Babalola did. I stand to be corrected. What God did through Smith Wigglesworth, if they had documented what God did in the life of that man (Babalola), people would be coming here for pilgrimage. He was anointed. So, anointed.

“Anointed man. Heavy-duty grace, but no money. So, all the grace just went like that,” Fatoyinbo said.

The comments drew a sharp reaction from the CAC, which, in a statement signed by its Director of Publicity, Pastor Ade Alawode, condemned the remarks as “insensitive and ill-informed.”

“In one of your trending messages on YouTube, you acknowledged that Apostle Babalola was highly anointed but ‘had no money,’ and then went on to ask sarcastically, ‘Where are his children?’” the CAC said. “To equate anointing or ministerial success with material wealth is biblically flawed,” Alawode had stated in the statement.

While setting the record straight, the CAC insisted that Babalola didn’t live a wretched life as the COZ pastor implied, but lived in a “befitting home,” owned one of the best Ford Jeeps of his time, and provided for many beyond his biological children.

“When Queen Elizabeth II visited Nigeria in February 1956, Apostle Babalola was among the honored guests. Would a man in rags be granted such recognition by a colonial government? Certainly not,” Alawode added.

The CAC spokesman noted that the late cleric’s two surviving children were “blessed, fulfilled, and quietly serving the Lord in their respective churches. They are not loud, ostentatious, or greedy.”

And responding in a press release on Thursday, Fatoyinbo said his remarks had been misconstrued and maintained that he did not speak ill of the late evangelist’s children.

“I appreciate the fact that a church I personally love, admire and respect would be so kind and magnanimous enough to address the issues which have been misconstrued in an exemplary Christian manner,” he said.

“At no time in the sermon did I refer to the children of the late Apostle and Father of faith in bad light. I would never do that.”

The COZA leader described Apostle Babalola as “a most distinguished father of faith in Nigeria and indeed all over the world” whose ministry has influenced “many of the churches in this part of the world.”

He added, “I am also aware that the children of the late veteran of faith, who are all serving God and keeping up the legacy of our late father of faith, are not only shining examples of generational impact, but good and present-day examples for children of visionaries to follow.”

Fatoyinbo concluded with an apology, “I apologise if any other statement made by me has caused any form of distress, hurt or discontentment to the CAC, the family of the late Apostle Babalola or his associates. I pray that this puts to rest the entire episode.”