The Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for Reverend Yinka Yusuf’s One Million Crusade in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Evangelist Godspromise Anthony Etim, has dismissed claims that the church failed to follow due process and consult widely with fathers of faith, leading to the withdrawal of approval for the crusade scheduled for February 9 to 15, 2026.
The Akwa Ibom State Government, a week before the much-publicized crusade, withdrew its approval for the event, citing an unsavory comment allegedly made by Reverend Yusuf against the people of the state.
The government also alleged that the cleric failed to follow due process and did not consult the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) or the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in the state, nor engage relevant government agencies responsible for security, crowd control, and emergency response.
Reacting at a press conference in Uyo on Monday, the LOC Chairman recalled that in December 2025, prior to the proposed event, Reverend Yusuf met with some senior pastors and PFN chairmen in Akwa Ibom.
According to him, “Prior to the cancellation of the programme, I submitted an official letter about the crusade from Rev. Yinka Yusuf to the PFN through the State Chairman during a courtesy visit, during which I informed him of Reverend Yinka’s intention to hold a strategic meeting with pastors in Uyo. The aim was to enable them share insight and spiritual leadership, and discuss a coordinated strategy for effective city-wide soul-winning ahead of the crusade.
“This meeting was scheduled for December 16 at Insight Bible Church. I paid an official visit to Dr. Sylvanus Ukafia, the Senior Pastor, at his office. I extended Rev. Yinka’s greetings and informed him of the crusade and his request to use the church as the venue for the meeting, which he approved.
“Before the December 16 meeting, specifically between September and October 2025, I visited all 25 Local Government Areas (LGAs) where I met with pastors from different denominations and set up a Local Organizing Committee in each area. I invited all the pastors I met to the strategic meeting with Rev. Yinka Yusuf on December 16.”
Etim further revealed that the PFN administrative secretary, who was introduced to him by the chairman, promised to help reach 156 senior pastors in the state. He said funds were provided for logistics and data to facilitate the dissemination of the letters from Reverend Yusuf. He stressed that at no time did the PFN chairman make any monetary demand, nor was any money given to him personally.
He questioned claims that pastors were not consulted, arguing that either the letters were not distributed as promised by the administrative secretary or they were distributed but ignored by the recipients.
The evangelist also decried the appearance of an Archbishop and a pastor on Akwa Ibom State-owned television, where they allegedly promoted what he described as a false narrative about the crusade. He said they claimed that visiting preachers come to the state to gain recognition from the government, while local pastors do not receive similar treatment when they visit other states.
Etim described these claims as a smokescreen, alleging that the leadership of CAN in Akwa Ibom was organizing a conference for a Kenyan prophet and mobilizing people to attend. According to him, they were concerned that the impact of Rev. Yusuf’s crusade—focused on soul-winning, spiritual revival, and stirring evangelistic zeal—would affect attendance at the visiting prophet’s programme.
He questioned why two crusades could not be held simultaneously in the state, noting that Pastor Enoch Adeboye and Pastor David Ibiyeomie recently held powerful Christian meetings on the same date at different venues in Port Harcourt without friction, and “the glory of God still manifested.” He asked why the same could not be replicated in Akwa Ibom.
Etim also dismissed allegations of infidelity against Rev. Yusuf, stating that photographs circulating on social media were misrepresented. He explained that the images were from a child dedication ceremony of a branch pastor who had waited 30 years for a child, a family photograph of Rev. Yusuf with his wife and daughter, and a Christmas Day visit from a pastor friend on December 25.
He challenged those spreading the allegations to produce evidence of the alleged extramarital affair and any child resulting from it.
While pledging utmost reverence to PFN and CAN as Christian institutions and acknowledging the integrity of their leaders, Etim urged fellow Christians to prioritize spiritual growth and support every dedicated evangelist on a genuine mission of revival and soul-winning.
“The ministry of an evangelist should not be monetized, resisted, or neglected in our time. Just as our people need industries and development, they also need the Gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation,” he said.
