A social media observation about the continued absence of a retired church leader from a major annual event has triggered a fresh wave of discussions among Nigerians. The focus is on Bishop David Abioye, the former vice president of the Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel.
The Viral Social Media Post
A Facebook user named Honour Oriretan recently shared his thoughts on the fact that Bishop Abioye did not attend Shiloh 2025. This is the second consecutive year of his absence after an unbroken attendance record of over two decades.
Shiloh is the flagship annual programme of the Winners Chapel, held at its headquarters, Canaanland in Ota, Ogun State. The event is presided over by the church's General Overseer, Bishop David Oyedepo.
In his post, Oriretan contrasted Abioye's absence with the presence of another retired vice president, Bishop Thomas Aremu, who attended Shiloh 2025. Both men retired from their leadership positions in October 2024 after serving alongside Bishop Oyedepo for 44 years.
What the Man Said Would Have Happened
Honour Oriretan suggested that many attendees were eagerly looking forward to seeing Bishop Abioye at the event, just as they were surprised to see Bishop Aremu. He argued that this focus should instead be on God.
He then made a key assertion: Had Bishop Abioye shown up, it would have silenced many rumour carriers who are suggesting he has a rift with Bishop Oyedepo and the Winners Chapel.
Oriretan concluded his post with a judgement, advising people not to pressure men of God, stating they are led by spiritual direction and not the need to please the public.
Mixed Reactions Flood Social Media
The post quickly attracted diverse opinions from other Facebook users, highlighting the public's divided perspective on the matter.
Yahaya Musa questioned the premise, asking, "Must he attend Shiloh to prove he is still a son to Bishop David Oyedepo?"
Johnson Samuel posed a pointed rhetorical question: "If the man be your papa, will you advise him to ever step his foot in that place ever again?"
Another user, Mike Mwamba, drew a corporate analogy, asking, "Whoever shows up in company meetings after being retired from the company?"
Meanwhile, Momoh Opeyemi Adejoke accused the original poster of simply seeking to be the first to blog about the issue.
The discussion around Bishop Abioye's absence at Shiloh continues to be a topic of significant interest, reflecting the public's keen observation of transitions within one of Nigeria's most prominent religious institutions.
