Tears flowed as eminent Nigerians, family, friends and benefactors gathered at the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Ikotun Egbe, Lagos, to bid its founder, the late Prophet T.B. Joshua, farewell.

The late Joshua was buried around 2.53pm on Friday on the church’s premises in the presence of his wife, Evelyn Joshua, his children, officiating ministers and senior members of the church. Many members of SCOAN were emotional during the ceremony as they were seen wailing and bidding him farewell as the casket bearing his remains was carried out of the church’s auditorium by pallbearers for interment. The late evangelist, who hailed from Arigidi Akoko in Ondo State, died on June 5 at the age of 57. Meanwhile, top Nigerian pastors and religious leaders were absent were Joshua was laid to rest.

Among the top pastors absent are Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God; Pastor Sam Adeyemi of Daystar Christian Centre; Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church also known as Winners Chapel; W.F Kumuyi of Deeper Life Church; Paul Enenche of Dunamis Church; and Lazarus Mouka of the Mountain of Fire Church. Others are Chris Okotie of the Household of God Church International Ministries; Tunde Bakare of Citadel Global Community Church (formerly Latter Rain Assembly), and Matthew Ashimolowo of Kingsway International Christian Centre. When the televangelist died, the Christian Association of Nigeria and many pastors were initially silent.

However, 72 hours after the death of the founder of SCOAN, CAN issued a terse statement to condole his family and SCOAN congregation. The condolence, which observers believed was belated, followed condemnation of its silence among Christendom and several organisations on social media.

Critics wondered why CAN would commiserate with others but wait for a long time before making a statement on Prophet T. B. Joshua.