One Year On: The Unfolding Bishop Okuyelu Sex Scandal and the Price of Truth

 

In the heart of journalistic pursuit, we embarked on a mission to reveal the untold truth, accurately and factually, in a gripping human interest story published on July 28, 2022. Little did we know that our quest for justice would lead to unforeseen consequences, and ultimately, our banishment from Meta’s platforms. This is our story, one that we will not be silenced from telling.

 

It all began with a frenzied tip-off, an anonymous figure known only as “Tola,” who reached out to us with a bizarre and obscene revelation. At the core of this shocking disclosure was a looming threat of violence, with a church on the brink of being consumed by flames. The urgency was palpable, and we knew we had to heed the call of the concerned youth to seek justice for those deserving of it.

 

The Church Youths emerged as the valiant protagonists in this saga, clamoring for reforms in the face of perceived infidelity, injustice, and immorality. A tide of protests surged as they demanded one thing with unyielding conviction: Remove the Bishop. And the Bishop in question was none other than a popular married figure, caught red-handed in a scandalous sex chatting video. Adding fuel to the fire, the other party involved was alleged to be a prostitute, intensifying the gravity of the situation.

 

Accusations of financial mismanagement further marred the Bishop’s reputation, as it was claimed that church funds were employed in an attempt to hide his shame, leaving church workers without their rightful salaries.

 

The unfolding drama reached its peak when the alleged prostitute demanded the Bishop’s redemption, pleading with him not to release the incriminating video. But the plea fell on deaf ears, and the clip was unleashed, revealing the Bishop and the woman in the throes of passion, a sight deemed too explicit for public consumption and carefully preserved in our archives.

 

Thus, the scandalous revelation was rightly labeled as “an obscene tip-off.” The youth, determined to bring this case to light, sought out a news agency to ensure the truth would not be buried by the church’s leadership. This is where our part in the narrative began.

 

Our reporting triggered a sequence of events that sent shockwaves through our organization. The Bishop, Ebenezer Akorede Okuyelu, was served a sabbatical, and the protests gradually dwindled into silence.

 

However, we were unprepared for the severe backlash that followed, as though we had committed a crime. It came in the form of Reverend Oluwaseun, the alleged assistant to Bishop Okuyelu, who unleashed a relentless assault on our journalistic integrity. This onslaught ultimately led to the permanent ban of our website URL, pija.com.ng, from all of Meta’s platforms.

 

Months later, on March 21, 2023, Reverend Oluwaseun’s voice rang through our office lines once again, demanding the story be taken down. Refusing to cower, we stood firm, asserting our right to report on matters that demanded public awareness. The specter of the video in our possession served as a compelling reminder of the truth we sought to uphold.

 

In an unexpected twist, Facebook flagged the post about Bishop Okuyelu as spam, and despite our queries, Meta’s blue app swiftly sanctioned our URL across all affiliates. The consequences were dire, as we struggled to reach our audience with the same vigor as before.

 

As the dust settled, the higher ranks of the Anglican Church managed to obscure the scandal, skillfully orchestrating Bishop Okuyelu’s transfer to another diocese. The cloak of secrecy was carefully woven, leaving the new congregation blissfully unaware of the alleged sexual predatory act.

 

But we, as the marginalized media, refuse to be silenced. This piece serves as our resounding voice, unashamed and unyielding. It is a clarion call, a warning, and a reminder that we shall never surrender our pursuit of truth. For at the end of this dimly lit media tunnel, we believe fervently in the beacon of hope—a beacon that shines the brightest when truth prevails against all odds.

 

This is coming as Meta unblocked our website url, today — July 29, 2023.

 

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