“If I want to buy a jet today, I will,” — David Ibiyeomie

Founder of Salvation Ministries, David Ibiyeomie, has drawn attention after stating that he has the financial capacity to acquire a private jet, using the claim to underscore his message on giving and priorities within religious life.

He made the remarks during a sermon in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he challenged what he described as misconceptions around generosity and financial outcomes.

“Please don’t tie down your destiny with stinginess. Giving does not make people poor, never. If giving makes people poor, then I would have been poor but I can’t be poor,” he told his congregation.

He stressed that his approach to giving is not driven by excess wealth but by personal conviction. According to him, financial capacity does not determine willingness to give, adding that commitment varies among individuals regardless of their bank balances.

“We don’t give because we have more than others, we give because we love God. There are people who have physical cash in this church more than me, but they don’t give what I give,” he said.

Addressing questions around his personal wealth, Ibiyeomie said he could prioritize luxury purchases if he chose to divert funds away from ongoing church projects. However, he explained that his decisions are guided by what he considers higher priorities for the ministry.

“If I want to buy a jet today in this church, I can buy a jet. All I need to do is to stop the Cathedral and I will buy jets. That Cathedral can buy jets, not a jet. I can buy jets of any kind, but I said no because the kingdom of God is the first,” he stated.

He also linked his vision for the church to standards of design and presentation, suggesting that places of worship should reflect a level of quality comparable to other prominent institutions.

“Of recent I saw a traditional ruler with gold in his palace. I said nothing will make the church not to do it with gold. In this Cathedral, everywhere you turn will be gold,” he added.