The Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, has firmly ruled out any possibility of venturing into partisan politics, declaring that no amount of money, including one billion dollars, could persuade him to abandon his divine calling.
Oyedepo made the emphatic declaration while addressing thousands of worshippers during the impartation service at Shiloh 2025, the church’s annual convocation held at the Faith Tabernacle in Ota, Ogun State. The widely attended event draws participants from across Nigeria and around the world, and is often used by the cleric to deliver messages on spiritual direction, national issues, and the role of believers in society.
Speaking candidly, Oyedepo said political office and partisan engagement fall completely outside his God given assignment. According to him, any attempt to deviate from one’s divine purpose, no matter how financially attractive, ultimately leads to frustration and failure.
“Partisan politics is off my calling,” Oyedepo told the congregation. “If you give me one billion dollars to join politics, I won’t, because it is off my course.”
The statement drew loud applause from worshippers, many of whom regard the founder of Winners Chapel as one of Africa’s most influential Christian leaders. Oyedepo has often been the subject of speculation regarding possible political ambitions, particularly given his outspoken views on governance, leadership, and national development. However, he has consistently maintained that his assignment lies strictly within the ministry.
During the message, the cleric urged church members to remain disciplined and focused on their individual callings, warning against the temptation to pursue popularity, power, or wealth at the expense of purpose.
“One of the greatest tragedies in life is to succeed in what God did not send you to do,” he said. “You don’t measure success by applause or money. You measure success by obedience to divine instruction.”
Reflecting on Nigeria’s socio political trajectory, Oyedepo recalled that he had issued warnings to the church years earlier about looming difficulties facing the nation. According to him, those warnings were not political predictions but spiritual insights meant to prepare believers for challenging times.
“In 2015, I warned the church that trouble was coming,” he said. “Didn’t trouble come?”
Although he did not elaborate on the specific nature of the troubles, the bishop’s remarks were widely interpreted as a reference to Nigeria’s prolonged struggles with insecurity, economic instability, social unrest, and declining public trust in institutions over the past decade.
Oyedepo argued that the depth of the crises confronting Nigeria and the wider world cannot be solved solely through political mechanisms. Instead, he said, divine solutions are required to address problems that have grown beyond human wisdom.
Quoting from the Bible, particularly Romans 8:19, the cleric described the global situation as one of deep spiritual darkness and moral confusion. “The world is groaning in darkness,” he said, adding that creation is waiting “for the earnest manifestation of the sons of God.”
According to Oyedepo, believers who remain steadfast in their spiritual assignments would be strategically positioned to offer solutions to national and global challenges, not necessarily by holding political office, but by exercising influence through wisdom, integrity, and divine insight.
“The army of God is about to emerge to proffer solutions to national crises in the order of Joseph and Daniel,” he said. “It is the day of what eyes have not seen or ears heard.”
He cited biblical figures such as Joseph and Daniel as examples of individuals who influenced governance and national outcomes without seeking political power for its own sake. In his view, their impact came from divine wisdom, excellence, and faithfulness rather than political ambition.
Oyedepo stressed that believers must resist the growing pressure to equate relevance with political participation, noting that societal transformation can occur through various forms of service, innovation, and moral leadership.
“Not everyone is called to the same field,” he said. “When people abandon their calling to chase trends, they end up confused and ineffective.”
The bishop also cautioned against the politicisation of the church, arguing that spiritual institutions lose credibility and moral authority when they become extensions of partisan interests. While acknowledging that Christians have a civic responsibility to vote and engage constructively in society, he maintained that the pulpit must remain distinct from party politics.
His remarks come amid ongoing debates in Nigeria over the role of religious leaders in political discourse. In recent years, clerics from both Christian and Muslim communities have become increasingly vocal on governance issues, sometimes drawing criticism for perceived political alignment.
Oyedepo, however, reiterated that his responsibility is to provide spiritual leadership and moral guidance, not to seek elected office. He said his focus remains on raising individuals who can influence society positively across various sectors, including business, education, science, and public service.
As Shiloh 2025 continues, the message has sparked wide reactions across social media, with many Nigerians praising the cleric’s consistency and clarity of purpose, while others continue to debate the appropriate balance between faith and politics in a deeply religious society.
For Oyedepo, however, the position remains unequivocal. No amount of wealth or political influence, he said, is worth abandoning one’s divine assignment.
“When you stay on your course,” he concluded, “you become relevant in God’s agenda for your generation. Anything outside that is a distraction.”
