I find it insensitive for congregants of a denomination to celebrate the birthday of their founder by buying him a Rolls Royce at this time – Patrick Doyle laments economic hardship

Veteran actor Patrick Doyle has voiced his concern over what he perceives as an insensitive gesture. Doyle expressed his dismay regarding the extravagant gift of a Rolls Royce to a church founder, stating that it feels out of touch with the current struggles many Nigerians face. With many citizens barely able to afford basic necessities, such lavish displays of wealth seem misplaced, according to Doyle.

His remarks came shortly after the 70th birthday celebration of Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of the Living Faith Church, during which he was gifted not one but two Rolls Royce Cullinan cars. The luxurious birthday presents have sparked debates about the appropriateness of such wealth, particularly when many Nigerians are struggling to feed themselves.

Doyle suggested that the funds used to purchase these high-end cars could have been redirected towards more meaningful causes, such as building infrastructure or supporting projects that benefit the wider community. The actor’s opinion reflects a growing frustration among Nigerians about the glaring economic disparity and the choices made by some religious organizations amidst these challenges.

According to him; ‘’In these austere times, we all need to be sensitive how we mark landmark celebrations for ourselves or in honour of persons we hold in high esteem. We should even be sensible enough to tone down the public appearance of our affluence. Now is not the time to ride around our streets filled with hungry and despondent Nigerians in our luxury cars. 

I personally know of a friend of mine who has a Rolls Royce and many other luxury cars in his fleet. He now drives around in a  Ford Escape, not as a show of false modesty, but as a gesture of sensitivity to the prevailing hardship in the land. Sadly, not many others in his socio-economic class are doing the same thing. The insensitivity of the elite may very well provide the spark for the long anticipated revolution Nigeria needs for a reset. I am still in a wonder bubble how or why congregants of a denomination chose to celebrate the birthday of their founder by buying him a Rolls Royce at this time. 

In my naive opinion, I find it to be insensitive  in the extreme. While I appreciate the importance of celebrating a man like their founder, a more sensitive gesture would have been to build a socially relevant  facility or institute a scholarship scheme in his honour. The cost of the Rolls Royce could certainly have funded any of the things I just mentioned. We appear to be a people who get stuck on old formats and ways of doing things. When congregations used to buy cars for their pastors, it was at a time many of the pastors could not on their own muster the resources to buy one themselves. This is certainly not the case in this instance. The celebrator, in this case, already has a fleet of luxury autos and even aircrafts. A more befitting birthday gift might have been the construction and equipping of a vocational training centre in his name or any other such thing.  

The public already has the impression that as the founder of 2 elite private universities, he is not sufficiently acquainted with the sufferings of the masses. So, a gesture such as I have suggested might have helped to mitigate that impression.  This is my humble opinion offered from the depth of my affection for the great man who I personally hold in the highest esteem.”