At the mention of Maradona in Nigeria may not conjures up images of the legendary Argentine footballer. Truly, Diego Maradona was known for his negative impact on the sports world, such as the infamous “Hand of God” goal against England in the quarter-finals of the 1986 FIFA World Cup He was also banned from the 1994 World Cup after testing positive for ephedrine and four other banned substances. Similarly, General Ibrahim Badangida, who ruled Nigeria from 1985 to 1993, was dubbed “MARADONA” for his iron-fisted rule and questionable leadership.
The term “MARADONA” has come to symbolize someone with ulterior motives and a disregard for the greater good. In the context of our church, we have seen a similar pattern of self-interest and ambition leading to chaos and division. A decade ago, a coup was attempted within the church, with false allegations and claims of divine intervention used to justify the attempt coup on the Pastor. The fallout from this betrayal led to rifts within the congregation, isolation from the Pastor Founder family and a loss of trust in the leadership.
In a bold and audacious move to assert himself as the Pastor of the Church, the latest Maradona in our midst has seized the opportunity presented by the system collapse to redirect the focus of the Church. Instead of pursuing genuine reconciliation, he is pushing for a reunion with the Benin Republic Diocese in order to move the Pastoral seat there. This brazen action was orchestrated by Oluso Maradona, who abandoned his duties as a shepherd to further his own agenda, believing that Nigerian laws would not apply to the Supreme Headquarters.
Oluso Maradona’s tactics reek of immaturity, as he attempts to manipulate the integrity of the registered Board of Trustees. His unwelcome visit to one of the trustees residence on the 6th April 2025 was met with rejection, just as his previous coup attempt was a decade ago. The meeting in Benin Republic lacks the authenticity and values that the Nigerian Diocese upholds. It seems like a poorly scripted movie, especially considering the pending court cases at the Federal High Court in Lagos and the Appeal Court in Ibadan.
Oluso Maradona, determined to see his agenda from 10 years ago restored, caused quite a stir when he made a disruptive call to the National Headquarters of the Church on the 13th April 2025. He attempted to sow confusion by declaring that the 3rd highest-ranking person in the Church should not be allowed to deliver a sermon by noon at the National Headquarters on Good Frida. Despite his efforts, Oluso Maradona’s plan failed as he maintained a composed demeanour in public while secretly pushing his pastoral agenda behind closed doors.
Despite these challenges, the Church should be steadfast in its commitment to uphold its principles and values through the reconciliation on the Church in Nigeria first, rather than embarking on a self interest mission in Benin Republic. We will not be swayed by the antics of individuals who seek to undermine the genuine reconciliation we need to rebuild and restore our unity and integrity. Our faith and resolve will see us through this turbulent time, and we will emerge stronger and more united than ever before.
It is worth nothing that the emergence of wise, God-fearing, dedicated, and educated landlord shepherds will not allow any evil plans or imaginations of enemies of peace to stand.
Who is that maradona shepherd?