By Uzor Odigbo
The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) has said that it is yet to name a successor to occupy the vacant position left by the late prophet TB Joshua, contrary to reports in the media that it had done so.
Dr. Gary Tonge, a Briton, who identified as a friend of the church and spoke on its behalf, disclosed this during a press briefing on the laying to rest service of its founder, at its headquarters in Ikotun-Egbe area of Lagos State on Tuesday.
Present at the press conference are Colonel Andy Aniboh, Director of Security; Dr. Gary Tonge Freng, friend of the church; Ayodeji Olabiwonnu, Legal Practitioner and member; and Dr. Ugochi Aluka, during the press briefing at the church headquarters in Lagos.
Tonge debunked the reports by some media platforms that it already has a new leader in Evelyn Joshua, wife of the late prophet, stating that the church will announce who will take over the position when the time comes.
On if there is someone in the church to take over the miracles performed by the late tele-evangelist, Tonge said that the decision is a spiritual matter, and not an administrative one.
“It’s not about machinery. It is about suitable people, and it’s about the move of the holy spirit. So there is simply no administrative answer to the question, because it is not an administrative issue”, he said
On the controversy of TB Joshua’s final resting place, SCOAN revealed that he will be buried in Lagos on July 9, and not his hometown of Arigidi Akoko, in Ondo State.
The church revealed that the church’s followers on social media increased by over 600,000, while it also received millions of testimonies and tributes from 195 countries since the news of his demise broke.
“The news of his departure also led to an increase of 600,000 followers on the TB Joshua Ministries Facebook Page, reaching a total of 6,200,000 — the largest of any religious figure in Africa”, it said.
Tonge in his address said that the cleric’s death on Saturday, June 5, 2021, few days to his 58th birthday was by divine will.
SCOAN said that knowing TB Joshua was a man of global influence and that the eyes of the world will be on the event, it has to abide by the commitment to the ideal of responsible corporate citizenship due to the current public health realities.
“We wish to ensure you that that we are working hand in hand with the Lagos State Government and the Ministry of Health (both at state and federal levels) to ensure that the current public health and security protocols, as well as other general guidelines and regulations of the Lagos State Government and the Federal Government, are observed throughout the duration of these events”, it said.
SCOAN appealed to all those who are unable to attend physically, to watch the broadcast in the comfort of their homes
Full Funeral Programme
July 5: Candlelight Procession – 6 pm (A private service)
July 6 – 7: Tribute Service – 10 am – 7 pm (open to public with limited seating). Service of songs / All night praise – 12 midnight (open to public with limited seating).
July 8: Lying-in-state – 11 am – 5 pm (this event is open to the general public for people to pay their last respects to God’s servant, prophet TB Joshua)
July 9: Laying-to-rest Service and internment – 10 am (open to public with limited seating)