Popular Calabar pastor, Bishop Josef Bassey reacts to backlash over his second marriage, says former wife abandoned him since 2016

The founder and General Overseer of God’s Heritage Centre, Calabar, Cross River State, Bishop Josef Bassey, has reacted to backlash and accusations following his second marriage to one Oma Etta. 

The pastor, who married his first wife, Grace Josef Bassey in 1997, and have two children with her, left many people in shock after photos from the traditional wedding with Etta surfaced online. 

Unconfirmed reports making the round on social media claimed that his first wife left him over alleged infidelity.

However, a statement issued by the church secretary, Barr. Melody Irem, on Wednesday, August 31, 2022, described the reports as malicious and demonstration of crass ignorance by agents of hell. 

According to Barr. Irem, the bishop’s first marriage ended since October, 2016 after his former wife abandoned the marriage.

He confirmed that the presiding bishop got married ‘gloriously, honorably and enviably’ on Wednesday, 24th August 2022, after six years of ‘undesired singlehood’.  

“Our attention has been drawn to an onslaught of malicious, defamatory fabrication of lies, misrepresentation of facts and outright demonstration of crass ignorance aimed at tarnishing the hard-earned image, name and reputation of our highly esteemed and respected man of God, His Lordship, Bishop Josef Bassey,” the statement read.

“Ordinarily, we would have completely ignored it as the Lord whom we serve knows the truth and is the ultimate defender of his own; but so that people of goodwill and good conscience do not get deceived or swayed by this ignominious perpetuation of these agents of Satan obviously doing the bidding of their master, we therefore feel obliged to set the records straight as follows

“1. That the first marriage of our man of God ended since October, 2016 after the former wife abandoned the marriage.”