Yinka Yusuf, a prominent Nigerian evangelist, has announced the relocation of his anticipated "1 Million Crusade" following a cancellation by the Akwa Ibom State Government regarding the use of a government hall for the event.
Reports indicated that the state government informed Mr. Yusuf through a letter that previously granted permission to utilize the Ibom Hall for the crusade had been withdrawn due to "security reasons" linked to the current security conditions in the state.
The letter, dated July 27, was signed by Patrick Udomfang, the CEO of the Akwa Ibom Property and Investments Company Limited. It gained considerable attention after circulating widely on Facebook.
Mr. Yusuf had already made payments to the state government for the use of the hall for the crusade, which was scheduled for February 9, which had led to considerable preparations and investments.
The evangelist alleges that local branches of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) had influenced the state government’s decision. He claims this was due to their invitation of a visiting Kenyan prophet to Uyo, whose event is set to occur a week before his own. Mr. Yusuf contends that he had already committed substantial funding to publicity and logistics, with international guests scheduled to arrive, making any last-minute changes challenging and financially burdensome.
In a Facebook announcement made on Friday, the evangelist conveyed that his ministry would no longer pursue plans to conduct the crusade in Uyo. He stated, "We have come to the end of the road for Uyo. The government, PFN, and CAN have insisted that I must reschedule our crusade to accommodate the Kenyan program by moving it forward by a week."
He further mentioned, "We have decided to follow the Word of God and move to the next city."
Mr. Yusuf reported that his team would return already deployed vehicles and equipment to Lagos, noting his expenditures have exceeded N43 million in preparations for the now-defunct crusade.
"We leave everything to God, from whom nothing is hidden. I wish blessings upon the Governor, PFN, and CAN, and I hope their initiative is successful. May the Lord, who directed us to Uyo, send other evangelists to fulfill what we could not in the city," he added.
He expressed regret to the five thousand evangelists invited from across the globe, many of whom had already booked flights from countries including the US, UK, South Africa, Australia, and Namibia.
This announcement coincided with the emergence of a video that featured Mr. Yusuf making controversial remarks about Akwa Ibom on social media, which sparked backlash among the state's predominantly Christian community.
His comments criticized the local population, suggesting a negative perception of their self-image and pride, leading many to react angrily.
In response to the public outcry, Mr. Yusuf later released another video, claiming the earlier footage was taken out of context. He stated the comments were relevant to a sermon he had delivered two years prior, centered around a topic about dismantling spirit influences in the area.
Officials from the Akwa Ibom State Government indicated that the rescindment of his crusade approval was based on Mr. Yusuf's derogatory comments and not on any security-related issues. The Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, stated that the decision was influenced by the inflammatory remarks made against the citizens of the state, which have understandably incensed public sentiment.
On Friday, Mr. Yusuf issued an apology to the people of Akwa Ibom, retracting his previous statements.
Victor Ukpong, the Administrative Secretary of PFN in Akwa Ibom, informed PREMIUM TIMES that a public statement on the situation would be forthcoming but had yet to be released.
Attempts to reach the Christian Association of Nigeria for comment were unsuccessful. The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, a pastor himself, runs a church called All Nations Christian Ministry International in Eket, Akwa Ibom.
In contrast, Mr. Eno has been actively investing public funds into religious programs similar to those Mr. Yusuf attempts to promote. Recent events have highlighted a clash between Mr. Yusuf’s ministry and the state administration, which coincided with a scheduled notable crusade in Uyo by Pastor William Kumuyi of the Deeper Life Ministry, one of Nigeria's largest churches.
As Mr. Yusuf was dismantling plans for his equipment and mobilizations back to Lagos, Governor Eno was welcoming Pastor Kumuyi and his entourage at the Government House in Uyo.
A supportive message from Joshua Iboro Samson, a local cleric, was shared with Mr. Yusuf via Facebook, wishing him strength in his endeavors, reflecting on his past crusades in various Nigerian cities.
As of Saturday afternoon, Mr. Yusuf's promotional billboard for the failed crusade remained in place outside Ibom Hall, a symbol of the disrupted event.
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