Bishop Alfred ‘Lahojah’ Ogunnusi of the Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church has apologised over the tongue-to-tongue anointing ritual he conducted.
A viral video had captured the cleric performing the ritual with a younger bishop.
The ritual elicited flurry of reactions with many expressing shock and disapproval over the action.
Lahojah, while defending his action in another live video, said: “I thank God that everything that happened occurred while I was still alive and not after I was gone.
“The work of God will not be destroyed through me, and everything I do is biblical. I don’t do anything that is not biblical. Since I have been practising this, the Bible has been my guide, and I have done everything through the blood of Jesus.
“Please look at Genesis 48:10, which says: ‘Now Israel’s eyesight was poor because of old age; he could hardly see. Joseph brought his sons to him, and his father kissed them, embraced them, and advised them.’ Can you hear me now? That’s it! This is not from my knowledge but from God.”
But in what appears to be u-turn, the cleric in another live video monitored by The Nation, apologised to the Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church and the Christian community.
He said: “My name is Eminence Baba Aladura Alfred Oluwasegun Okikiola Ogunnusi, also known as Lahojah.
“Please don’t be angry. Everyone who believes what I did was wrong, please forgive me.
“I seek forgiveness. What happened in the viral video was what I did, and I led the session. I greet all pastors and Christians and ask them to forgive and not be angry.”
The Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church, in its earlier reaction to the controversial tongue-to-tongue anointing and Ogunnusi’s defence, distanced itself from his action.
The church condemned the act in a statement titled ‘Vexatious Anointing of a Bishop by a Self-Acclaimed Church Leader: Our View’.
They described it as disturbing, labelling Ogunnusi’s actions despicable before God and man.
