Matilda Omonaiye/
The General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, has confirmed that his planned Global Crusade in Aba, Abia State, will hold as scheduled.
Some local media, including NewsmakersNG, had reported that the crusade had been cancelled owing to threats of violence by the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
The crusade was scheduled to hold in Aba from May 24 to May 29, 2022 but IPOB told the 80-year-old cleric not to go ahead with the crusade.
But Kumuyi in a tweet on his verified handle this morning said the crusade would still hold as originally planned.
He wrote, “The Global Crusade with PASTOR Dr. W.F. Kumuyi still holds.
“Get connected and get blessed.
“Celebrating One Year of God’s Divine Visitation in the Global Crusades.”
A statement from the Chairman of the crusade’s organising team, Pastor James Akpofure, acknowledged the security concerns in the state, but said Kumuyi would be praying for “God’s Divine Intervention”.
“As there are currently some security challenges at the intended alpha location (Aba, Abia State, Nigeria), the Global Crusade Convener, Pastor (Dr) W.F. Kumuyi, commiserates with our people in Abia State and will be praying along for God’s Divine Intervention,” the statement reads in part.
Earlier on Thursday, IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, had asked Kumuyi to consider the insecurity in the South East and not proceed with the crusade.
“Let him (Kumuyi) and the organisers of the crusade make sure that nothing happens. The security of this region is not good because of political and criminal activities. We, therefore, advise him to stop this crusade for security reasons.
“IPOB will not allow anyone to die because of this crusade scheduled to hold in Aba. The probability of criminals operating as unknown gunmen infiltrating the crusade is high and they will blame it on IPOB,” Powerful had said in a statement.
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