The crisis rocking the Diocese of
the Lagos Anglican Communion deepened with a serious protest during the Good
Friday Easter service at the Church of Christ on Marina, Lagos.
The
information was said to have caused serious tension in all the parishes of the
church in Lagos. The church service had started at about 9:00 am with the hymn
and followed by the prayers.
The
Bishop of Lagos Diocese and Dean Emeritus of the Anglican Church at the Marina,
Most Rev. Adebola Ademowo, as a statutory duty, was to deliver the day’s
sermon.
However,
as he was entering the church, Ademowo was greeted by a serious protest by some
elders and members of the church who were against him and his role in the
succession plan.
They
protested against the election and translation of the Rt. Reverend Humphrey
Olumakaye as the new Bishop of the Lagos Diocese, overseeing the Church of
Christ, Marina.
The
protesters promised their anger on the fact that Olumakaye was recently translated
from the Osun East Diocese to Lagos and was billed to take over from Ademowo.
The
protesters were led by a popular Lagos politician, Chief Yomi Finnih who also
doubled as their Spokesperson.
The
placards bore inscriptions such as “Enough is Enough…no to looting of Lagos
Diocese”, “No to Bishop looter”. “No to women organization looting”.
An
Indication that something unusual was in the offing was noticed early in the
morning through the condoning off of the Marina Road which was occupied by
several members of the Lagos security outfit, the Neighborhood Watch and the
unusual huge presence of policemen in and around the church premises.
Shortly
after Ademowo delivered his sermon, an unidentified member of the church walked
towards the altar and angrily threw copies of a published document detailing
AdemowoI’s sins and walked out.
The
Marina Road stretch was closed to traffic for several hours while the protest
lasted.
The
protest also affected proceedings at the church as members were seen discussing
the development and the way forward.
Many
of the elders and members of the church had through several letters to the
Primate of the Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, rejected
Olumakaye’s election on the grounds that it was an imposition by the outgoing
Ademowo to “cover his tracks” in an election they also criticised to have been
influenced by distribution of huge sums of money.
They
have also accused Ademowo in a letter to Primate Okoh dated February 26 2018,
alleging that his tenure was “a period of disaster filled with economic and
financial recklessness.”
The
protest letter was signed by eminent elders including Asiwaju Fola Isibo, Mr.
Modupe Alakija, Chief Femi Adeniyi Williams and Chief Layi Ajayi-Bembe.
Others
are Mrs Laide Sasegbon, Mrs. Dupe Sagoe, Mr. Ade Abisogun, Mr. Bukola
Meadows and Ms Molara Otuyelu.
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