In a recent interview with Sunday PUNCH, Olatosho Oshoffa, the son of the founder of the Celestial Church of Christ, Worldwide, Bilewu Oshoffa, opened up about the church’s stance on polygamy and shed light on his late father’s life and legacy.
Oshoffa emphasized that the Celestial Church of Christ doesn’t prohibit polygamy, citing examples from the Bible to support his assertion. He challenged readers to find a prophet in the Bible who had only one wife, stating, "Paul was only advising. Tell me in the Bible, which prophet of God had only one wife? Do your research and tell me."
The late Bilewu Oshoffa, who founded the church, left behind a significant family, with 13 wives and 53 children, sparking discussions about his lifestyle as the leader of one of Nigeria’s prominent Christian congregations. However, Olatosho Oshoffa dismissed concerns about his father's polygamous marriage, attributing the founding of the church to divine selection despite his father having multiple wives.
Olatosho Oshoffa addressed criticisms by comparing his father’s polygamous union to the monogamous relationships of some modern-day religious leaders, suggesting that having multiple wives didn’t hinder his father's divine calling. He defended his father’s character, emphasizing that his father never engaged in extramarital affairs and that all his wives were under one roof.
Regarding family unity, Olatosho Oshoffa revealed that his father instilled a sense of cohesion among his children from different mothers by fostering a familial bond centered around their shared identity as Oshoffa’s offspring. He explained that his father’s love served as a unifying force, enabling them to transcend familial divisions and perceive themselves as one cohesive unit.
Amidst the ongoing leadership crisis within the Celestial Church of Christ, Olatosho Oshoffa acknowledged the challenges associated with succession following the founder’s passing but expressed optimism that the issues would eventually be resolved. He affirmed his eldest brother, Rev. Emmanuel Oshoffa, as the rightful leader of the church, drawing parallels between the leadership struggles in the Celestial Church and those in other religious institutions throughout history.