Apostle Johnson Suleman, the founder of Omega Fire Ministry (OFM), says his remark that the COVID-19 pandemic should not end was a “slip of the tongue”.
The clergyman had stirred widespread criticism recently on social media after a video wherein he boasted of purchasing his third private jet amid the pandemic surfaced and went viral.
In the video, the 49-year-old had also said that he prayed the pandemic doesn’t come to an end because he was “resting”.
But reacting while addressing members of his congregation on Tuesday, the pastor said the comment was made in “error.”
He also accused the pastor who edited the video of deliberately using the part against him.
Apostle Suleman said he was only trying to explain how the pandemic bonded families and how some people blossomed financially despite the odds.
“There’s a video that is trending about me. It was posted by a pastor against me. It was a programme I had in Abuja and I was trying to explain something about COVID-19. When they told me that I prayed for COVID-19 not to end, I said ‘me? I didn’t say that,” he said.
“When they brought the video, I discovered it slipped out of my mouth. There’s no pastor that will pray for COVID-19 not to end. It doesn’t make sense.
“I was talking about what happens around COVID-19, how families were staying together, how families united, how some people even made money during that process. That was what I was trying to buttress and it slipped out of my mouth. I could not have prayed for Covid not to end, no pastor would do that. But he (the pastor) took that mistake, edited some part and blew it.”
He, however, defended the part where he said that he bought his third jet during the pandemic, urging those rankled by the acquisition to “go and die.”
The cleric said it was unfortunate that such critics are usually quiet whenever he executes charitable projects aimed at improving the society.
“If you are angry I mentioned three jets, you will just die. That’s the truth. Then you are angry I mentioned jets, you never vex. If you cannot commend me then you cannot condemn me,” he said.
“That of COVID-19, I regretted the way it came out… Not that we were happy that people are dying. That is insensitive.
“God will only be angry with me if I take offering and tithe to buy plane. But if I have avenues of God blessing me, what’s your business? Is your money missing?”
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