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ESE WALTER AND PASTOR FATOYINBO SCANDAL: Between Schadenfreude and fair opinion


I have taken a break from mass media for a while to take care of some personal projects. However, I have been so harangued by the sex scandal involving Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo and Ese Walter that I think I should offer a word or two on it. 


Reading Ese Walter’s account on her personal blog, I couldn’t help but admire the courage with which she is learning to live her authentic life. However, it is quite unfortunate that many people have had their minds so beclouded with anger, jealousy or some other strong emotions that they have completely missed the point.

The volume of malicious words and degree of distortion on social media suggests that a good number of people are simply motivated by the desire to derive pleasure from other people’s misfortunes especially when such people are leaders, public figures or high achievers. We hear stories of someone missing the mark and we’re all too eager to nail the culprit and condemn the “sinner”, forgetting that in God’s courtroom, we’re either witnesses or advocates, not judges. 


Besides, history has proven time and time again that the most vehement critics are often guilty of greater transgressions either secretly or somewhere down the line. When we criticise and condemn people, it says more about us than it says about them.


Thankfully, the Bible does not hide the stories of great people like King David who committed adultery and aggravated it with murder in a bid to cover up. Yet, God forgave him as soon as he dealt with the issue. Even though he suffered great losses after the incident, he still occupies pride of place both in the Bible and in secular history. We have similar examples in contemporary times. To deny our tendency to transgress is to deny our humanity. 

When people fail or appear to fail, we should learn to accept their predicament with charity and equanimity, especially when such people are leaders and public figures. These people face challenges that are unknown to most of us. Our responsibility is to pray for them while supporting them on the path to recovery. 

It is not our prerogative to judge or condemn anyone. This does not mean that leaders are unquestionable. However, it is important that we free them to sort themselves out with the Ultimate Judge and the people that have been hurt by their actions.

I understand the anger, disappointment and frustration evoked by stories like this. However, I believe that we would do well to stop every form of vindictive remark and despiteful gossip against either party. Rather, let us address the situation in the spirit of the confessor whose self-professed goal is to bring healing to herself and deliverance to other people caught in a similar web.

 This is even more important in light of the fact that the plaintiff always seems convincing until the defendant comes to cross-examine him. It is too early to form a fair opinion on this issue as we have only heard one side of the story. 

And even if the other side confirms our fears, it does not in any way signal the end of Pastor Fatoyinbo’s ministry; neither does it pollute the credibility of the Gospel or dilute the authenticity of Christ’s message.

Philip Amiola is a teacher, writer and campaigner of empowerment. He writes from Lagos, Nigeria, blogs at philipamiola.org and tweets from @PhilipAmiola.
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11 comments

  1. Phillip Amiola! Wonders will never cease! The fearless writer whom I have picked interest in reading his articles. The writer of "God is not a muslim, he's not a christian either" I wonder your religion if you claim no association with atheism paganism perhaps, you are an infidel. I'm so surprised to see you use the word "God" in your article I'm still wondering how you serve this your own rather "reclusive God". May I receive an exposition?

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  2. The best comment I have come to read on the issue so far. The best and the sanest.

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  3. Mr Amiola, you have some points but u get wrong when u say let us not judge especially when the culprit is a leader or public figure. What! are u kidding me? so we should not judge da likes of Maina who stole 23billion of pensioners money or the likes of tafa balogun etc. Are u sure u are writing ubjectively or u are one of those who feel their moral duty is to sit on da fence. so exactly what u suggest is these people should be left to God to judge while we watch our society degenerate further and further in choas.
    I am disappointed in your peace making opinion, not from someone like you. its a shame that u offer such parochial view of an issue of such degree and tempo.

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  4. For once, sm1 speaks wit a little love. Its jst fair dat we leave judgement to God we all hav sinned plus God doesn't hav grade A or B sin so wats wif d measure of magnitude nd all. David is my fav man in d bible if any man lives jst like David he wld make heaven jst like David irrespective of plenti wives, murder, concubines and numerous praises to God. And if u live like Judas dat all u did is one betrayal... U knw d rest of it. #ALittleLove pls

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  5. She is beautiful even most of you guys want to have a taste of this girl stop pretending.

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  6. Well, for me I do not totally agree with the writer because I believe that anyone in a public office, pastors inclusive should be able to conduct their lives in good stead, be responsible and accountable such that if any allegations especially a sex scandal like the one just made by against Pastor AF, the leader/pastor should be quick to either deny it or accept his mistake and tender an apology to forestall any prolong debate or misconception of the situation.

    I believe it is not good to judge people especially when the story is one sided as we don't really know what transpired but be it as it may, I believe that Pastor A Fotoyinbo shouldn't have kept quiet about this accusation, he should have been nipped it in the bud straight away as soon as it hit the media waves. Especially that he is a leader of a Church of God and lots of lives are looking up to him.

    I hope that this issue will be dealt with in a manner that will help the parties involved to move forward quickly and positively.

    My submission will always be that leadership (especially public leadership) should be responsible and accountable for their actions and/or what goes on in their domain, not until this rule is followed that any positive changes will starts to manifest in our society.

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  7. Mr Amiola's comment is so far the best and the sanest on this subject indeed. All of you that have made yourselves opinion leaders on this issue, and propagating public leader's responsibility and accountability, how many of you in your private lives are responsible and accountable? what is the confirmation that if / when you become a public leader, you will not be worse. It beats me that sinners are so bold to condemn other sinners, if you must know you are heaping more curses and punishment on yourselves, far greater that those that are even involved in this matter.

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  8. Franca E the second lady claiming to have had an affair with Pastor Biodun of COZA says herlife is being threatened. And according to a statement she sent Stella Dimokokorkus, she has been told she should not have come out to support Ese Walters and her allegations that she had sexual contact with Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of COZA.
    Here is the statement she released:


    My encounter with Pastor Biodun had been a long dead and buried issue. I only commented because people were calling Ese a liar and I knew first hand that something like that had nearly happened to me. However, now they are involving my family especially my sick father.
    Whatever meeting whoever had with my father has no bearing on my life because he does NOT speak for me. For those sending me threatening texts, what I possess is my best security. I have taken the precaution of making copies of all that I have and entrusted it to two people who would send them out if I turn up dead…be it from armed robbery, kidnapping, sickness, poison, planecrash, heart attack, car accident or even childbirth. As my last word on this issue, I remind you that I, Franca E, is protected by ‘a level of grace you don’t understand’! Peace.

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  9. Mr Philip I agree wit wot U said en U r nt far 4rm d truth, bt nt all who has a gud hrt will take it cos dey r full wit hatred en bitterness of hrt towards many dat r above dem. Let God who is d faithful judge show d truth some day en make evry 1 ashamed of his or her judgement towards dis issue. Some Nigerians r nt pple of importance 2 d society at all, cos if any hv a word 4 d public try Ur best 2 identify Ur self so we can knw who is speaking.U post wit anonymous en hid Ur identity, Its a shame on Ur prt. Post Ur name jst as Mr Philip en all other Nigerians who r positive wit wot dey say so U can be a proud man or woman dat U hv said sumfyn of importance. In democracy there is freedom of speech any where en nt 2 be afraid of Ur own self.

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  10. If its true and the Pastor confesses,its not out of order to forgive him,bring him back to the fold and love and protect him more,but if he doesnt do that,but expects to lie to us and cover up,ha,yawa go gas oh.if he is innocent,God will see him through

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  11. I like the piece that Philip Amiola put up. But I would want to disagree with him on some points. The first point I want to disagree with him is on "JUDGEMENT" A lot of people mistake saying the obvious or saying the truth about a situation for judgement. When the truth is said about something they call it judgement. If your relation does something wrong and you say it is bad, do you call it judgement? It is not judgement rather you have said the fact or the truth about that action. I want also to disagree with you on that of David in the Bible. David's action was not per-meditated but that of Pastor Fatoyinbo was per-meditated from what we read from Ese. David was idle as he didn't go to war. He was upstairs and was going about his palace and suddenly he saw this woman naked. Because of the sudden attraction he sent for her. Pastor Fatoyinbo left Nigeria for London just to have sexual escapades with Ese. It was not by accident he met Ese. He stayed for seven good days just to have his fill of the enjoyment. As a matter of fact, if Mr President or a governor does such a thing, I will absolve him because Mr President or the governor has not claimed to be holy and righteous. But a Pastor that has founded a church that many of his followers are looking up to him should guide against such acts. What does the Bible say? It says be vigilant so that the Devil will not useless you. It says in another place that you should resist the Devil and he will flee from you. One obvious fact today is that it is becoming rampant among our present day pastors. Fornication and adultery is on the increase among our pastors of today. I am very much convinced that God wants to expose the pastor through this lady probably because he has been doing that with other ladies/women provoking the anger of God. Remember that silence is acceptance. He has not responded to the allegation against him. If the pastor repents today God will surely forgive him. But if what Ese wrote is false she has a greater punishment. I REST MY CASE.

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