Nigerian televangelist
TB Joshua has invited to Lagos the bereaved families of the South African
victims of a fatal church building collapse for a trip of “spiritual and
emotional support”, a spokesman said Tuesday.
A
guesthouse for foreign followers of the pastor and televangelist Temitope
Balogun Joshua, commonly known as TB Joshua, collapsed on September 12 killing
116 people — including 81 South Africans.
Remains
of 74 of the South African victims were repatriated home two months later and
11 more remained behind awaiting DNA identification.
“The
healing process is continuous but it was very important that the families be
part of the year-end candlelight service — it’s spiritual and emotional
support,” the church’s spokesman in South Africa Kirsten Nematandani told AFP.
TB
Joshua-Synagogue Church
He said
TB Joshua, who “has continuously supported the families”, will interact with
them throughout the trip. “This is about the spirit of caring.”
Forty-four
of the 74 families have taken up the offer for the all-expenses-paid, week-long
trip starting on Christmas Day.
The rest
are unable to travel because of lack of travel documents or prior commitments,
said Nematandani.
Families
of the 11 outstanding victims will be invited after the remains are sent back
to South Africa, he said.
Some
South Africans took to social media, suggesting that the trip was a bribe for
the families not to launch any legal action against Joshua.
“This is
a pre-emptive strike against any possible lawsuit,” tweeted @Nothibi-Phosa.
But
Nematandani dismissed such claims saying the relatives were going to the church
to “pray” and not to talk about litigation.
Joshua, a
prophet, has said the collapse in
September may have been sabotage and has on three occasions ignored summonses
to testify before an on-going coroner’s inquest into the incident.
His
lawyers are attempting to stop the investigation, arguing the coroner has
exceeded his powers to call Joshua as a witness.
Nematandani
said TB Joshua “has never been above the law, he respects the law”.
The
preacher’s followers include influential politicians and business people from
around Africa and the world, and his loyalists have suggested the collapse is
part of a conspiracy to undermine him.
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