"SPAC Nation London Will Never Loose Its Focus"

London Metropoli top Security officers who paid visit to the leadership of the Church

By SAM POPOOLA,  Lagos

 SPAC Nation London has declared that it would never lose its focus in its crusade aimed at rebuilding and nurturing the youths in that community and later proceed to empower jobless youths in Africa particularly Nigeria as doing such would remould their lives.


This was contained in a press statement issued by the Chairman, Board of Trustees of SPAC Nation Rev.Dapo Adegboyega and forwarded to news men during the Christmas celebration.


The Chairman described as unfortunate the propaganda and campaign of calumny being continually sponsored by a group of disgruntled members who were eased out of the Church for acts of indiscipline.


Rev. Dapo Adegboyega ,the Board of Trustee Chairman disclosed that a panel of enquiry has been set up to look into allegations levelled against some pastors of the Church and assured that its outcome would be made known to the public.


Expantiating on the activities of SPAC nation,he said "the works of this organisation and evidence-based success in tackling youth violence, drugs
and knife crime has been applauded as the most successful of all time by the Violent Crime Reduction Unit of the Metropolitan Police as well as top government officials.


"In fact, this has also been highly commended and reported on by many major news media including the respectable BBC which voluntarily launched a 3 part documentary in April 2019 titled “Escaping gang: Death, Jail or Redemption” showcasing their works.


"The BBC was given unhindered and uncensored access into their operations and activities forseveral weeks of the filming of the documentary in 2018. Further to this, several leaders in this organisation have been invited as guests on various BBC programmes such as the breakfast
show of Victoria Derbyshire, BBC World, BBC Africa and several BBC Radio programs.


"This faith-based organisation has reconciled violent rival gangs, brought together feuding opponents, rescued innocent youths from the grips of drug barons, paid for their release and kept them safe. With multiple pieces of evidence on video! It is an organisation that has a weekly service attendance of over 1,500 young people including parents and they stream every one of their services on virtually all social media platforms live.


"In 2019 alone, the organisation has seen well over 63 knives voluntarily surrendered at their services and then handed over to the police. Thus, if it costs the Uk govt and taxpayer £3.2million to investigate 1 homicide, the organisation has saved the UK govt £201.6million this year alone. And yet, has never received any funding or grant from the government or any institution.


"Recently  it was reported by BBC News that “Three men stabbed to death in London in 12 hours”. We have found that at least 2 of these victims were invited to SPAC Nation and had visited wanting to seek for a change. These are the type of lives we encounter daily and the lives we are determined to save. Our passion and desire have helped and saved many and we
strongly disagree with the smear campaign imposed against SPAC Nation.


"This is a short brief of the organisation that BBC Panorama producers have decided to listen to a handful of former and non-former members; who were either reprimanded for sharp and unacceptable behaviour, disciplined or excommunicated for various unethical activities and centre an upcoming production around these allegations.


"Unfortunately, before their decision to go ahead with the upcoming programme, neither the Board of Trustee nor the leadership was contacted, rather, they decided to write to perceived leaders of the organisation making every attempt to link their private and business lives to the
operations of the organisation.


"The Board of Trustee and the leadership has intercepted a couple of the letters, especially the one addressed to the Senior Pastor and responded to the best of the information provided.


"We have consistently maintained an open door policy and have also reiterated the fact that we will be willing to look into any credible accusation and bring anyone culpable to disciplinary actions.


"We have a complaints procedure that is easily accessible but unfortunately, none of the allegations being peddled has been reported! Even at that, we are still willing to look into it should any credible evidence be brought forward.


"We are an organisation of over 2,000 passionate followers in London with several other thousands outside of the UK. We have deliberately held back our people from responding to the various online smear campaign as there’s even a number of these mischief-makers making daily online videos portraying different members and leaders of the church in a certain way.


We believe the BBC to be a well-meaning respectable organisation that cares about the welfare of the society and the quality of diligence put into its investigations.


Unfortunately, on this occasion, we see no societal good nor honest intentions in the upcoming broadcast, especially with the way in which there is a desperate attempt to connect individuals personal lives and businesses with the organisation.


On the probability of balance, we believe the individuals should have been given a fair chance of responding to any allegations against them with the names of the accuser so that at least; 1.


We can even ascertain whether they were former members or not.  So that the other party can also give his fair account of whatever transaction or relationship
they had.


The BBC has been a very positive force in the fight against knife crime and drugs as we even have members who watched the BBC documentary about SPAC Nation from the prison over 2 years ago and joined the organisation on their release and have since been living a crime-free  life.


"We believe in honest reporting, we believe in investigative journalism, but above all, we believe in justice and fairness. There must be an opportunity for the allegations to be properly defended,rebuffed or admitted by allowing the parties involved to know their identities and then can they proceed to give their own side of the story.


We are in discussions with our in-house team of Solicitors as well as our acting firm of Streathers Solicitors LLP to decide the next lines of action.