The Senior Pastor of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr. Paul Enenche, has addressed the recent controversy surrounding a testimony given by Ms. Anyim Veronica Nnenna at the Glory Dome in Abuja.
In a statement released by the Personal Assistant/Secretary to the Senior Pastor, Sylvester Edoh, on Monday, Enenche expressed concern and clarified that it was not his intention to embarrass Ms. Anyim.
The issue started when Ms. Anyim testified about how God helped her graduate with a degree in law after ten years, becoming the first graduate in her family. However, Dr. Enenche halted her testimony, expressing doubts about the authenticity of her claims.
The statement explained the reasons behind Enenche’s actions, stating, “The action of the Senior Pastor was rather based on his and the church’s aversion to seeming mediocrity and any appearance of untruth.
“These were the immediate triggers for the said scenario: First, listening to the testifier’s expressions as it borders on basic spoken English, conveys the impression that the minimum standard expectation of a graduate, especially a graduate of Law was not met.
“Second, stating that she studied Law for 10 years begged the question of what her degree actually was.
“Third, she was unable to state exactly what the correct degree was for Law which is LLB, rather she said it was a BSc in Law which is largely unknown as a Law degree in Nigeria and possibly globally.
“These prompted the Senior Pastor, Dr. Paul Enenche to stop the testimony immediately as a product of a ‘lie.’ However, relief came when it was later confirmed that she actually graduated from a university.”
In his response to the controversy, Enenche acknowledged the need for clarity and understanding, stating, “While we remain resolute in our passion for excellence, intolerance of mediocrity and falsehood, we wish to reiterate the fact that no harm or hurt was ever intended by the Senior Pastor against Ms. Anyim Veronica. The Senior Pastor feels deeply concerned and has already reached out to her.”
The incident had sparked public outcry, with many Nigerians calling for Dr. Enenche to apologize to Ms. Anyim. However, the statement from the church sought to provide context and explanation for the Senior Pastor’s actions, emphasising that the intention was not to cause harm but to uphold standards of truth and excellence.
