The Christian Association of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, on Tuesday turned its back on the embattled former Presiding Chaplain of Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, Lagos, Venerable Femi Taiwo, saying he was to blame for his plight.
The body, at a press conference, said that the wife of the state governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode, was not in any way connected with the sack of the cleric, saying allegations against Governor Akinwumi Ambode and his wife “were not only untrue but unjust and erroneous.”
Taiwo was sacked recently for allegedly disrespecting Mrs Ambode, by failing to accord her due recognition during an anointing service.
It was reported that the governor’s wife was annoyed that the pastor did not observe protocols due to the First Lady during the anointing oil service, and during his sermon.
Following the saga, it was alleged that Venerable Taiwo received a letter of sack from the Ministry of Home Affairs that is in charge of the Chapel, apart from being ordered to quit his Government House official quarters, within 24 hours.
Reacting to the sack, Rt. Rev. Michael Adeyemi, head of the African Church, Ifako Diocese, and boss of Taiwo, had told newsmen what the governor’s wife did was sacrilegious and that she ought to apologise.
But the state government denied the allegations against the wife of the governor, saying Venerable Taiwo was relieved of his job “over some misconducts.”
At the press conference held within the Government House chapel premises, the CAN leadership in the state denied the allegations against the governor’s wife, saying that the Governing Council of the church acted within the law to relieve the chaplain of his duties.
CAN Chairman in the state, Apostle Alex Bamgbola, said the information contained in the media reports was totally far from the truth, and that it was unfortunate that the public was fed with totally untrue story.
He said for the records, the chapel was established by the state government for its officials and members of the public with a Governing Council running its affairs through a standing Constitution.
He stressed that under the constitution of the chapel, the Governing Council, which reports to the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Home Affairs, has the legal authority to appoint two officers to run the church, who are the Presiding Chaplain and the Chaplain.
He said, “The Governing Council has the constitutional responsibility and authority to recruit and to terminate two officers who run the Chapel who are the presiding Chaplain, who is the senior officer and the Chaplain, who is the deputy. So, the presiding chaplain and the chaplain are officers of the chapel and officers of the government of Lagos State.
“With this clarification, it should be known by the general public that these two officers who run the chapel are strictly officers of the state government and they are subject to terms and conditions of employment of the state government.
“When this matter began, many well-meaning Christians and elders tried to look at things and see how to work on the issue so that it does not get to the point we have seen. Well, the fact is, having investigated the matter carefully and objectively, that is CAN Lagos State, we wish to state here today that the Governing Council that recruited Venerable Taiwo acted within its constitutional authority to terminate the appointment of Venerable Taiwo,” Bamgbola said.
He added that the allegations against the wife of the governor were absolutely unfortunate, “and it was most unfortunate that a media house decided to sell its paper with untrue story.”
Bamgbola, who addressed the briefing alongside top leaders of CAN in the State, said, “In particular and most unfortunate (aspect) is the accusation of our reverred and most responsible First Lady of Lagos State, Deaconess Mrs Bolanle Ambode as being instrumental to the termination of the appointment of the presiding chaplain because of one anointing service.
“We wish to state clearly here today that this is far from the truth. We want the press to know this and we want to thank all of you because the press has been quiet on this matter except a particular paper that has been selling its paper through this matter which is unjust, unfair and does not portray professionalism.
“Deaconess Mrs Bolanle Ambode, as far as we know, is a true woman of God who fears God and lives a godly live and whom it has pleased God to raise to be first Lady of Lagos State at this time. The error of judgment by the said newspaper is most unfortunate and unfair to her, unfair to the entire Lagos State Government and unfair to the church at large.
“We are therefore appealing to the press and the social media to please desist henceforth from publishing and circulating erroneous publication concerning this matter,” he said.
When asked whether Taiwo was given notice before ejection from his official residence, Bamgbola answered in the affirmative, but said it would be inappropriate to start discussing the offence of the chaplain on the pages of newspaper.
He said for now, the CAN leadership has taken over the matter and would resolve it, but urged media practitioners to desist from circulating untrue story to the public.
Also speaking, Rt Rev. Michael Adeyemi, Bishop of African Church, Ifako Diocese, the church where the former chaplain was seconded to the Chapel, said the church was satisfied with the position taken so far by CAN.
He said, “The matter is already under the control of CAN. We are very much satisfied with what CAN is doing. We appreciate Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and our mother, his wife, Mrs Bolanle Ambode. The Governor has achieved a lot in the State and we are satisfied with him.
“On behalf of African Church, I will appeal that we are happy with CAN. The most important thing is to do what will glorify God. We have the mandate of African Church to say that we are in agreement with what CAN is doing on the matter,” Adeyemi said.
Other clergymen who attended the briefing are Lagos State CAN Secretary, Baba Aladura, Israel Adewo; Lagos State CAN Treasurer, Rt Rev. Stephen Adegbite of Methodist Church; CAN Vice Chairman, Lagos State, Rev Dr Emmanuel Oguntoshin; and Bishop Adebanjo Gabriel Taiwo of African Church.
