Tunde Bakare lashes out at pastorprueners saying no one should be compelled to pay tithes

FORMER vice presidential candidate Pastor Tunde Bakare has lashed out at the leaders of pentecostal churches in Nigeria over the habit of collecting tithes from their followers saying nobody should be compelled to make such payments.

Known as pastorprueners, the owners of Nigeria's pentecostal churches are some of the richest clergymen in the world as they compel their members to pay 10% of their earnings in the form of tithes. As a result, many of these clergymen live very affluent and flamboyant lifestyles, owning among other things, strings of private jets and fleets of luxury bullet-proof cars.

Radio show host and presenter Ifedayo Olarinde popularly known as Daddy Freeze, has recently taken up the issue, accusing the clergymen of exploiting their followers. Agreeing with Daddy Freeze, Pastor Bakare, himself a clergyman who heads the Latter Rain Assembly, declared that no Christian should feel compelled to pay tithes as it is not compulsory.

Pastor Bakare said: “Tithing is not compulsory, so no one should feel compelled to pay, no one is holding a gun to their head. Churches where pastors are becoming fat and the members are growing lean, God will judge them.”

Other clergymen disagree though as recently, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, warned Christians of the dangers attached to none compliance to the payment of tithes. Nigeria's other wealthy pastorprueners include the likes of David Oyedepo, Matthew Ashimolowo, Temitope Joshua, Chris Okotie, Chris Oyakhilome, Ayo Oritsejafor, Gbenga Oso, Mike Okonkwo and Lazarus Mouka.