Real reasons I left Christianity for Ifa – Ex-pastor

A pastor in Nigeria's Ondo State, Olabanjo Felix, has publicly renounced Christianity to become an Ifa priest, embracing the indigenous Yoruba spiritual tradition known as Isese.

Felix, who now goes by Ifawamiri Aworanolodumare, stated that the "deceit in Christianity" and the "brainwashing of Christians by some pastors" led him to abandon his former faith. He alleged that many pastors in Nigeria operate Christianity as a personal or family business, with few exceptions.

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I became fed up of Christianity because there is no true pastor of the Bible in Nigeria aside from Pastor Gbile Akanni. I’m a Bible student and I understand the Bible very well, but I was arrested by Ifa.

"I became fed up of Christianity because there is no true pastor of the Bible in Nigeria aside from Pastor Gbile Akanni," Felix told Sunday PUNCH. "I’m a Bible student and I understand the Bible very well, but I was arrested by Ifa."

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I did that video to announce to the world that I’m no longer a pastor because people kept addressing me as pastor, but I cannot continue to accept that. I don’t support deceit, so people have to know that I’m now an Ifa adherent.

His decision followed a two-year "soul-searching journey" marked by growing disturbance over perceived contradictions in the Bible and deception among Christian leaders. Felix consulted other pastors in an attempt to examine his convictions but ultimately found he could not continue with Christianity.

He announced his transition from Christian ministry to Ifa practice in a viral video to prevent people from continuing to address him as a pastor. Felix also revealed he considered converting to Islam before settling on Ifa. He expressed gratitude to his new spiritual mentor, the Araba of Isara-Remo, Olusegun Aifuwape, and his spiritual sons for their guidance.

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I changed from Christianity to Ifa worshipping two years ago when I was on a soul-searching journey. I was very disturbed with the confusion in the Bible and the deceit in Christianity.