Real Reason I Turned Down N30 Million Donation from Kebbi Governor – Pastor Enenche

Dr. Paul Enenche, Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, has explained why he turned down a N30 million donation from Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, during a recent crusade in the state. Speaking during a Sunday sermon at the church’s headquarters in Abuja, Enenche said the decision was in line with a long-standing principle to avoid any form of government funding or influence in his ministry.

The pastor clarified that his rejection of the donation was not intended as a personal slight against Governor Idris, but rather a continuation of a standard he has upheld for over two decades. “For some people, that may be a surprise because they don’t know who we are. But those who know us, that’s no surprise at all. That’s how we’ve lived, and that’s what we’ve stood for,” he told the congregation.

To reinforce his position, Enenche recalled several past instances where he refused government money. He cited a 2014 trip to Jerusalem with then-President Goodluck Jonathan and other officials, where he paid his own way and declined an honorarium from the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board. “By the time we returned, the board chairman brought an offering and said this is their honorarium to me for going, I said no,” he said.

Enenche noted that even during President Jonathan’s visits to his church, no financial exchange ever occurred. Referring to the Dunamis church headquarters building, he stressed that not “one naira” of government money was used in the project.

He shared similar experiences with former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom and a childhood friend who later became a minister and offered to donate a vehicle, which he also refused. Enenche said his decisions are driven by a commitment to remain independent and able to speak truth to power without compromise. “I don’t want to touch any dime of government money,” he stated, warning that such associations could limit his prophetic voice.