by Zara Mustapha

Tension is slowly brewing in the Assemblies of God Church Nigeria (AGN) after the General Superintendent (GS), Paul Emeka, was suspended over his alleged misconduct, highhandedness and financial misappropriation in the administration of the church.

This was disclosed by the Acting General Superintendent, Chidi Okoroafor, while speaking to newsmen in Owerri , Imo state capital, saying that the decision to suspend the Rev. Emeka was concluded  during a deliberation on the implications of his action on the image of the church worldwide, at the meeting of the general committee held on March 6.

Following the suspension of Rev.Emeka, the church members are divided over the decision made by the general committee which has caused a great deal of tension.

National Mirror reports:

While some members on the side of the suspended General Superintendent felt that the authorities were highhanded in their action, others particularly the church authorities maintained that the church had degenerated to its lowest ebb since the administration of the suspended leader.

In a letter dated March 6, 2014 titled “Re: Rev. Prof. Paul Emeka, former General Superintendent, Assemblies of God, Nigeria” and signed by Rev. Dr. John Ikoni, Rev. Dr. Chidi Okoroafor and Rev. Dr. Vincent Alaje; the General Secretary, Acting General Superintendent and General Treasurer respectively, they maintained that their decision to suspend the former GS was hinged on the constitution which the GS acted against by dragging the church to court without first bringing his grievances to both the General Committee and the Executive committee members.

The church also accused the former General Superintendent of being autocratic, and involved in financial mismanagement; abuse of power and “above all took the church to court which tantamount to tarnishing the image of the church and bringing it to public ridicule.”

While calling on members of the church to stop relating with Rev. Paul Emeka as GS of the church, the committee maintained that he had “ ceased to function in any of the duties assigned to the Office of the General Superintendent in the Constitution and Bye- Laws of the General Council of Assemblies of God, Nigeria, with effect from Thursday March 6, 2014.”

The committee warned: “ Should any administrative unit(s) or minister(s) or member(s) of Assemblies of God, Nigeria, relate with the former General Superintendent in any way that is contrary to the established practice for all such cases in Assemblies of God, Nigeria, such administrative unit(s) or minister(s) or member(s) would be doing so to their own detriment, and would attract commensurate disciplinary measure by the Executive Committee or the General Officers of Assemblies of God, Nigeria.”

In a swift reaction, the suspended General Superintendent, however, said that those allegations were targeted at discrediting him, adding that those who are championing the suspension issue are doing so because of their selfish and parochial interests.

“Some leaders at the top of the hierarchy of the Assemblies of God who are championing this to achieve their political and leadership ambition may be happy now that they are serving their purpose, but they will be shamed,” the embattled cleric said