The Senior Pastor of Christ Embassy Church may have finally reconciled with his wife, Anita Oyakhilome (Nee Ebodaghe).
Indications are that the highly celebrated marital crisis which climaxed Anita seeking divorce based on what she described as her husband’s inexplicable behaviour may have been resolved.
According to Huhuonline.com investigation, Chris over time had developed a habit of surrounding himself with female Church members, some of whom lived with him in his lagos home, popularly referred to as « White House.»
The online news portal reports that some of the ladies, particularly one Pastor Yemisi Kudehinbu, a pharmacy graduate from UNILAG, was a factor in the crisis
The newsonline further reports that the Kudehinbu closeness to Chris Oyakhilome dates back to the 90’s, when she was a Pastor of Christ Embassy Student Fellowship (Believers Love World).
The report further stated, “As soon a Anita travelled to London over the failing health of one of their daughters. Yemisi moved in with Chris. She lived with him, cooked for him, bought his clothes, drove him around and travelled everywhere with him.
“However, she moved out anytime Anita was in Nigeria, but returned as soon as Anita travelled back to London. Even after their daughter fully recovered from her ailment, Anita was not allowed to return to Nigeria, she was only allowed to visit during Church programmes, such as camp meeting e.t.c. Elder T. Oyakhilome, Christian Oyakhilomen’s father intervened several times, but his efforts were rebuffed by his son.
“While Anita Oyakhilome was only allowed to visit her matrimonial home, Yemisi lived and thrived there. Yemisi became so powerful within Christ Embassy that she could hire and fire, she began to override decisions by many senior pastors in the ministry including Anita.
“Irked by this and many other develpoment which we can’t pen down, Anita Oyakhilome sought to be accorded more respect in her home and the ministry she co-founded. When her request was rebuffed by her husband, Chris Oyakhilome, she quit her job as Pastor , stopped attending the Church and filed for divorce.
“Christian Oyakhilomen responded with a televised broadcast, saying: « A child of God must not divorce . » “My wife (Anita) is a bitter woman. I am not a preacher, I am a man of God, where was the wife of Peter or Paul mentioned in the bible.”
“This assertion made many question Chris Oyakhilomen’s understanding of scriptures, because Paul, whom he cited his name, urged Christian men to deal with their wife with understanding. Paul called the wife joint- heir of the grace of life and that if a man does not treat his spouse right his prayer will be blocked.
” In the heat of the crisis, Christian transferred his chief security officer, Pastor Pat, from Lagos to Benin for informing his(Chris) mother about his ordeal and suspended a female Pastor who raised prayer request for his marriage.
“Our checks reveal that Pastor Yemisi Kudehinbu, who lived with Christian Oyakhilomen for more than 18 years playing wifey, had threatened to expose him, if he ever returned to his real wife(Anita). However, it remains to be seen if she will carry out her threat.”
It is not clear whether Pastor Oyakhilome has announced the new development to members of his church, who had at the thick of the crisis appeared to have backed their pastor not minding what might be the truth.
Christ Embassy is a popular church especially among youths in Nigeria. Some other Pentecostal churches see it to overly worldly and its controversial stands on issues like masturbation and drinking of alcohol have marked it out from puritanical bodies.
