Former Christian pastor Olabanjo Felix Gold has explained the reasons behind his decision to leave Christianity and embrace Ìṣẹ̀ṣe, the indigenous Yoruba spiritual tradition, saying his decision followed a two-year period of soul-searching.
Olabanjo, who previously founded Image of God Evangelical and Prophetic Ministries in Ibaka, Oka Akoko, Ondo State, recently announced that he had abandoned Christian ministry and become a Babalawo of Ifá.
In a follow-up interview with Sunday PUNCH, the former pastor said he became increasingly troubled by what he described as contradictions in the Bible and deceit among some Christian leaders.
According to him, his decision was not sudden but followed an extended period of questioning and spiritual reflection.
He said he consulted several pastors during the period because he wanted to determine whether he had misunderstood Christianity or was not genuinely born again.
“I changed from Christianity to Ifa worshipping two years ago when I was on a soul-searching journey. I was very disturbed with the confusion in the Bible and the deceit in Christianity,” he said.
Olabanjo claimed that his concerns were also fuelled by what he described as the commercialisation of Christianity by some pastors.
He alleged that some ministers had turned Christianity into personal and family businesses and said he had become uncomfortable with what he described as the brainwashing of Christians.
The former pastor said he even considered converting to Islam during his search for answers.
According to him, he consulted a Muslim cleric who advised him to study the Quran. He said he downloaded a Yoruba translation of the Quran and studied it before eventually deciding to explore Ifá.
“I even tried converting to Islam because I consulted a cleric who advised me to go and study the Quran,” he said.
Olabanjo said his conviction eventually shifted towards Ifá, particularly after what he described as his experiences with herbs and roots.
He subsequently began searching for what he considered genuine Ifá practitioners who could mentor him.
His search led him to Oluṣẹgun Latunji Aifuwapẹ, whom he identified as the Araba of Isararemọ.
Olabanjo said he found the traditional spiritual leader on Facebook and contacted him about his desire to learn Ifá.
He also rejected the description of his new practice as fetishism, saying his activities with his spiritual mentor have involved prayers, supplications and the use of herbs and roots.
The former pastor has now adopted the name Ifawamiri Aworanolodumare and identifies himself as a Babalawo of Ifá.
In the video announcing his transition, Olabanjo said he was formerly the founder of Image of God Evangelical Ministries but no longer wanted people to address him as a pastor.
He explained that the announcement was necessary because people continued to identify him with Christian ministry despite his decision to leave the faith.
“I did that video to announce to the world that I’m no longer a pastor because people kept addressing me as pastor, but I cannot continue to accept that,” he told PUNCH.
Olabanjo also made strong criticisms of Christianity and other religions he described as foreign.
“There is too much deceit in Christianity,” he alleged, claiming that some Christian leaders had used religion to manipulate believers.
He further alleged that some Christian clerics secretly consult Ifá practitioners for divination despite publicly condemning traditional religious practices.
“I cannot count the number of pastors that contact us for Ifa divination,” he claimed.
Christians React
Olabanjo’s decision has generated strong reactions among Christians online, particularly because he previously served as a pastor and founded a Christian ministry.
Some Christians have expressed sadness over his decision, while others have responded by pointing to biblical warnings about remaining faithful to Christ.
Among the Scriptures being referenced in reactions to the development is Jesus’ statement in Luke 9:62:
“No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
For these Christians, Olabanjo’s decision has become a reminder of the biblical call to perseverance and steadfastness in the Christian faith.
Other believers have urged Christians not to respond to the development with mockery or abuse, but with prayer, while also using the episode as an opportunity to reflect on the importance of grounding one’s faith in Christ and Scripture rather than in individual ministers.
The development has also triggered broader conversations about the credibility of Christian ministry, spiritual searching and the place of indigenous African spirituality in contemporary Nigeria.
For Olabanjo, however, the decision represents the conclusion of what he describes as a lengthy personal spiritual search.
He has now publicly identified himself with Ifá and Ìṣẹ̀ṣe, ending his previous identity as a Christian pastor and beginning a new chapter as Ifawamiri Aworanolodumare, Babalawo of Ifá.
His claims about Christianity, Christian ministers and Ifá remain his personal assertions and have not been independently established by The New Man.
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