Senior Pastor of Word of Power Gospel Church International, Apostle Festus Alilu, has publicly apologised to the Lead Pastor of Master Place International, Warri, Delta State, Korede Komaiya, over a controversial video he posted online.
The Convener of the Concerned Christian Youth Forum, James Paul Adama, confirmed the development on Monday, describing it as a step toward reconciliation.
Alilu was reportedly arrested by police officers from Delta State after he shared a video on his official Facebook page, accusing Komaiya of misleading church members with fabricated prosperity teachings.
In a letter of apology dated March 23, 2025, the cleric expressed deep regret over his comments.
“I write to express my sincere and unreserved apologies for a viral video I posted on my Facebook page on March 8, 2025, where I criticized your style of preaching,” he stated.
“I regret the offensive content of the video and the negative effect on your reputation, congregation, and the entire body of Christ.
“I have removed the video from my Facebook page and have also posted an apology video on the same platform. I humbly request your forgiveness and understanding so we can put this behind us and focus on our shared commitment to spreading the Gospel.”
The Concerned Christian Youth Forum, which played a role in resolving the matter, emphasized the importance of responsible speech and cautioned against defamatory remarks and cyberbullying.
“We believe that the Christian faith and its leaders should be respected and protected against defamation and cyberbullying. Differences of opinion do not justify hateful speech or malicious behavior,” the forum said.
“The matter has been withdrawn, and we appreciate all those involved for facilitating a peaceful resolution.”