Evicted Chaplain By Ambode Gets Free Furnished Apartment, Four More Offers
By Ola Babatunde, Lagos
God turned the eviction of Chaplain to blessing, about 48 hours after Lagos State Governor, Akinwumi Ambode, evicted Venerable Femi Taiwo, Chaplain, Chapel of Christ the Light, in Alausa, the cleric has been blessed with a fully furnished apartment.
Taiwo, who was sacked without any query or official reason, was ordered to exit his official quarters where he lived with his wife and two children within 24 hours.
Taiwo, who was sacked without any query or official reason, was ordered to exit his official quarters where he lived with his wife and two children within 24 hours.
Pleas from church leaders and elders failed to save the cleric, who still had two years to spend as the presiding chaplain.
Taiwo had allegedly angered the governor's wife, Bolanle Ambode, who had visited the chapel on Sunday, May 14, when the church held an anointing service.
Taiwo had allegedly angered the governor's wife, Bolanle Ambode, who had visited the chapel on Sunday, May 14, when the church held an anointing service.
The church is under the Lagos State Ministry of Home Affairs. The Office of the Lagos State First Lady supervises church.
Church members were said to have filed out to receive anointing oil during the May 14 service without any preference given to Bolanle.
She was said to have later moved to be anointed and moments later, stormed out of the church in anger.
Bolanle, who was reported to be visibly angry, allegedly shunned entreaties from the women, including the wife of the presiding chaplain.
The cleric was sacked the following day in a letter dated, May 15, 2017, and signed by the Chairman, Governing Council of CCTL, Mr. Olugbenga Solomon.
The letter also ordered the Assistant Chaplain, Rev. Ayo Oyadotun, to take over with immediate effect.
Church members were said to have filed out to receive anointing oil during the May 14 service without any preference given to Bolanle.
She was said to have later moved to be anointed and moments later, stormed out of the church in anger.
Bolanle, who was reported to be visibly angry, allegedly shunned entreaties from the women, including the wife of the presiding chaplain.
The cleric was sacked the following day in a letter dated, May 15, 2017, and signed by the Chairman, Governing Council of CCTL, Mr. Olugbenga Solomon.
The letter also ordered the Assistant Chaplain, Rev. Ayo Oyadotun, to take over with immediate effect.
Witness told the newspaper that: "The church had declared seven-day fasting after we lost two prominent members. The Sunday service, which was declared as anointing service, was supposed to end the fasting.
"Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, was present with her entourage. When it was time to be anointed, the cleric asked people to come forward; that it was optional.
"Three people stood at the stage to anoint people. They included the chaplain, the presiding chaplain and one other person.
"Three people stood at the stage to anoint people. They included the chaplain, the presiding chaplain and one other person.
"People started stepping out one after another. The governor's wife, after some time, also stepped out, was anointed.
"As she stepped out, it was obvious that she was angry. The president of the women's fellowship and the pastor's wife ran after her. She shunned them, entered her car and zoomed off.
"When we came to the church on Tuesday, we heard that Venerable Taiwo had been sacked because the governor's wife didn't get the anointing oil first and she felt disrespected. The man that signed the letter is a civil servant".
"When we came to the church on Tuesday, we heard that Venerable Taiwo had been sacked because the governor's wife didn't get the anointing oil first and she felt disrespected. The man that signed the letter is a civil servant".
It was gathered that Taiwo has now settled into a new and furnished accommodation provided by members of his congregation.
Taiwo said he got five offers of apartment from different members of the African church congregation.
A source disclosed that church members who were angered and touched by the way the priest was treated decided to help the cleric and his family.
A source disclosed that church members who were angered and touched by the way the priest was treated decided to help the cleric and his family.
"Apart from the apartment he moved to, he got four offers of apartment from different members of the African church congregation," the source said.
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