A social media observation about the recently concluded Shiloh 2025 event has ignited widespread discussion online, with many wondering if the retirement of a key church figure played a role in changing the program's dynamics.
Social Media User Highlights Perceived Shift
A Facebook user known as Uncle Oles sparked the conversation by sharing his observations about Shiloh 2025, the annual program hosted by the Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners Chapel. The event is held at the church's headquarters, Canaanland, in Ota, Ogun State, under the leadership of its General Overseer, Bishop David Oyedepo.
In his post, Uncle Oles pointed out what he believed was a noticeable decline in the media trends and publicity surrounding this year's event. "I think this year’s SHILOH witnessed a decline in media trends. Or am I the only one who has noticed it?" he wrote. He further compared it to previous editions, noting that the road shows appeared less crowded and overall online buzz seemed diminished.
Linking the Change to a Major Exit
The user's post directly questioned whether these observations were connected to the exit of Bishop David Abioye. Bishop Abioye, who served as Vice President of the church for 44 years alongside Bishop Oyedepo, retired from the ministry in October 2024. Shiloh 2025 was the second edition of the program held after his retirement.
Uncle Oles posed critical questions to his audience: "Are Winners’ members losing interest in the program, or has the exit of Bishop David Abioye from Winners’ Chapel affected the usual planning, execution, and publicity of the event?" He also speculated whether a new policy restricting attendance for former top pastors who left to start their own ministries contributed to the perceived change.
Mixed Reactions Flood Social Media
The viral post attracted a flood of comments with mixed reactions. Some users dismissed the observation, advising the author to attend physical church meetings rather than gauge success through social media noise. One comment read, "Lol, how can they know when they are not a member... Alot is going on and millions are getting bless."
Others engaged with the query more directly, with some noting inconsistencies in event information. However, several replies took a defensive or dismissive tone, telling the original poster to "mind your business" or to go and see the event for themselves.
This discussion has also revived earlier conversations about Bishop Abioye's absence, with netizens comparing it to the presence of another retired bishop, Thomas Aremu, at the same event. The debate highlights the significant public interest in the internal dynamics of one of Nigeria's most prominent religious institutions and how leadership transitions can influence public perception of its major gatherings.
