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Paul Enenche

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Paul Idoko Enenche (born 4 June 1968) is a Nigerian preacher, gospel singer, writer and medical doctor.[1][2][3][4] He is the founder and senior pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre one of the largest Pentecostal churches in Nigeria.[5] His church auditorium – the Glory Dome or Glory Sanctuary based in the Lord's Garden, Abuja, is the largest single church auditorium in Africa with 100,000 seat capacity.[6][7] Enenche is noted for his critical comments on national issues.[8][9][10][11][12] During the 2023 Nigerian presidential election, he campaigned openly against the Muslim–Muslim presidential and vice presidential ticket of the All progressives Congress ruling party and mobilized electorates to vote for opposition candidate, Peter Obi of the Labour Party.[13][14][15][16]

Background and education[edit]

Paul Idoko Enenche, an Idoma tribesman was born in Orokam, Benue State in 1968 to chief D.E (father) and Titi Enewa (mother). His father was a paramount ruler of the Orokam District in the Ogbadibo Local Government Area.[17] Enenche was raised alongside four other siblings including Major General John Enenche a former Nigerian Defence spokesman. He studied medicine at the University of Jos before proceeding to Nigeria Medical School where he earned a license to practice.[17]

Gospel ministry[edit]

Upon graduation, Enenche started practicing as a medical doctor but was not satisfied with his medical practice. On 28 May 1996, he went to the mountains in Gana Ropp, Barkin Ladi[18] where he was alone for three days fasting and praying to seek clarification from God on his calling.[19][20] While on the mountain, his wife Becky (also a medical doctor) who was nursing their first child at the time, also prayed alongside her husband for a confirmation of the calling. At the end of the three days prayer, it became clear to him that he has been called into gospel ministry. Enenche and his wife gave up their medical practice, three bedrooms official quarters given to each of them, salaries and other official benefits to start the ministry.[2]

Dunamis church[edit]

On 10 November 1996, Enenche and his wife Becky established Dunamis International Gospel Centre and held their first church service at the Abuja Centre for Arts and Culture for two weeks before moving to Abuja Sheraton Hotel where they worshiped for six months. In June 1997, the churched moved to its permanent site and established branches across Nigeria and in foreign countries.[19]

Glory Dome[edit]

On 24 November 2018, Enenche dedicated his church's new headquarters, the Glory Dome (or glory sanctuary). The Glory Dome is a single 100,000 seat capacity church auditorium, considered the largest church auditorium in Africa as of 2023.[7][21] It is located in the Lord's Garden, Lugbe along Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport road Abuja, Nigeria. Its foundation was laid on 14 September 2014, and construction took four years from 2014 to 2018 with its roof done by Geometrica Incorporated.[22] The Glory Dome has five major entrances, two long galleries and an expansive pulpit. Its yellow-coloured roof spans 228 metres and covers 22,148 square metres – over two hectares (five acres) without an interior column. Other facilities situated on the same grounds include Rose of Sharon Gardens, Still Water Restaurant, Destiny Christian Academy (a Boarding and Day School), Pastors' Quarters and a Water Fountain.[23]

Politics[edit]

Enenche is known for using his sermons to criticize politicians and government on national policy issues. In 2018, Enenche in a sermon in his church narrated media reports detailing how the Kaduna State governor Nasir El Rufai summoned Christian chiefs in the state to his office and ordered them to subjugate their chiefdom to emirates - a title used by monarchs or high officeholders in the Muslim world. A first-class Christian monarch, Agom Adara, Maiwada Galadima[24] who was vocal in opposition to the order of the governor was kidnapped along with his wife on his way home from the meeting. After payment of a ransom for the release of the couple, his wife was freed three days later but Maiwada Galadima was brutally murdered despite the ransom. Enenche stated that the killing of the monarch who was the leading voice against the governor's order of subjugation was suspicious and called on the state to investigate and prosecute the killers of the monarch.[25] Video clip of the sermon went viral  but the governor of Kaduna State labelled it inciting sermon and reported Enenche to the Inspector General Police to arrest, investigate and prosecute him.[8][26][27]

In the lead up to the 2023 Nigerian presidential election, Enenche was vocal in his criticism of the ruling APC’s same faith (Muslim presidential and Muslim vice presidential) ticket of the party in a country evenly divided between Christians and Muslims and polarized along religious lines. He campaigned vigorously for the opposition candidate Perter Obi of the Labour Party.[28][29] On 26 February, a day after the presidential election, Enenche in a sermon in his church criticized security agencies for overlooking violence perpetrated in opposition strongholds during voting and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be transparent in the collation of results.[30][31] Enenche then invoked the anger of God to befall anyone who manipulates the results of the election. On 28 February, APC presidential campaign organization spokesman Dele Alake convened a world press conference during which he termed the statement of Enenche a call to anarchy and asked the Department of State Security Service (DSS) and the police to arrest, investigate and prosecute him for hate speech.[32][13][33][34] The call for the arrest of Enenche was opposed by several civil society organizations stating that asking authorities to play by the rule was not an inciting comment.[35][36]

References[edit]

  1. Online, The Eagle (2018-08-14). "Pastor Eneche turns 50, Osinbajo, Dogara, Oyedepo attend celebration service". The Eagle Online. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Pastor Paul Eneche: General of the message of the salvation of Christ". Vanguard. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  3. Gbadebo, Bode (2023-02-20). "2023 Presidency: Peter Obi Is The Way To Go, Says Dunamis Founder Enenche". Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  4. Ukanwa, Ezra (7 March 2023). "It's time to save Nigeria, be fair — Pastor Enenche tells Judiciary". Vanguard. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  5. "Surprise! Dis church jam activists wen dem ask for all first-timers". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  6. "Photos: World's largest church auditorium in Abuja". 26 November 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Owete, Festus (23 November 2019). "Enenche, the Glory Dome and Critics: One Year After, By Festus Owete". Premium Times. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  8. 8.0 8.1 OBIEJESI, Kingsley (2018-12-14). "HATE SPEECH: El-Rufai to arrest popular Abuja pastor for inciting violence in Kaduna". The ICIR- Latest News, Politics, Governance, Elections, Investigation, Factcheck, Covid-19. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  9. Fajana, Adekunle (2021-11-27). "Billionaires behind terrorism in Nigeria, other nations, says Dunamis Church founder, Paul Enenche". Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from Ripples Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  10. Times, Quest (2022-08-10). "Pastor Enenche bombs Buhari, APC". The Quest Times. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  11. Staff, Daily Post (2018-12-14). "Kaduna killings: 'I will get you' - El-Rufai threatens Paul Enenche of Dunamis". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  12. Megaiconmagazine (2018-07-06). "Herdsmen killing: Pastor Enenche attacks Presidency over 'land for life' comment". MegaIcon Magazine - Celebrating Human Excellence. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  13. 13.0 13.1 Folorunsho-Francis, Adebayo (2023-02-27). "APC asks DSS to arrest Enenche, Dino Melaye". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  14. Sunday, Ochogwu (2022-07-13). "2023 presidency: Don't take Christians for granted - Pastor Enenche spits fire". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  15. "Nigerian Cleric, Pastor Enenche Blocks Critics On Twitter Who Reacted To His Open Endorsement Of Peter Obi | Sahara Reporters". saharareporters.com. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  16. Cyril (2023-02-17). "2023 elections, an opportunity to change Nigeria's situation - Enenche". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  17. 17.0 17.1 Thomas, Shola (3 June 2022). "Daddy Enenche: God's General turns 54". Vangaurd. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  18. Chukwuka, Kingsley (2022-07-24). "Muslim-Muslim Ticket: Christians not minority, we control 20 states — Paul Enenche". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  19. 19.0 19.1 Editorial Staff (2020-07-25). "Dunamis International Gospel Centre: History & Basic Facts You Need To Know". Daily Cross Walk. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  20. "25 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT DR. PASTOR PAUL AND DR. MRS. BECKY ENENCHE". gospelnaija.com. 2019-04-17. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  21. "20 magnificent photos of Glory Dome; the biggest Church in Africa with 100,000 seater capacity". www.myinfo.com.gh. 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  22. Berglund, Taylor. "World's Largest Church Auditorium Dedicated in Nigeria". Charisma News. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  23. Oyediji, Tayo (2019-06-17). "DUNAMIS Pastor, PAUL ENENCHE Builds 100,000 Seater Dome In ABUJA". City People Magazine. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  24. "BREAKING: Abducted Kaduna Traditional Ruler Killed Despite Paying N10m Ransom | Sahara Reporters". saharareporters.com. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  25. Godwin, Ameh Comrade (2018-10-29). "Paul Enenche blows hot on Kaduna killings, blasts 'wicked demonic leaders'". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  26. "El-Rufai accuses Dunamis pastor of incitement, vows to sue him". TheCable. 2018-12-14. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  27. punchng (2018-12-27). "Hate speech: CAN warns el-Rufai against prosecuting Dunamis pastor, Enenche". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  28. "2023 Elections: Pastor Enenche Shares Photo With Obi, Says This Is 'The Way To Go'". Channels. 20 February 2023.
  29. Okhuevbie, Omon (15 January 2023). "2023: Enenche Reveals God's Chosen Candidate Nigerians Should Vote For". Independent. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  30. Mosadioluwa, Adam (2023-02-27). "Do not tamper with the will of the people–Pastor Enenche warns INEC". Tribune Online. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  31. kabir (2023-02-26). "2023 Presidential Election: Pastor Enenche Threatens INEC of Unimaginable Consequence". Politics Digest. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  32. Audu, Umar (2023-02-27). "CSO calls for arrest of Paul Enenche over alleged inciting sermon". Daily Nigerian. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  33. "'Why DSS must arrest Pastor Paul Enenche now'". PM News. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  34. "No Devil Can Alter The Election, We Can See People Being Defeated In Their Territories - Paul Enenche". GhanaWeb. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  35. "Coalition warns against Enenche's arrest". Punch Newspapers. 2023-02-28. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  36. Nigeria, Guardian (2023-02-28). "'Leave Enenche alone, calls for his arrest disgusting' - Igbo youths tell APC presidential campaign organization". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 2023-10-17.


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