The Lagos State yesterday honoured the erstwhile presiding chaplain of Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, Venerable Femi Taiwo who was sacked for failure to accord Bolanle, wife of former governor of the state, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, preference and recognition during an anointing service
It would be recalled that Bolanle had, on Sunday, May 14, 2017 visited the chapel which is under the Lagos State Ministry of Home Affairs and supervised by the office of the First Lady of the state.
Church members were said to have filed out to receive anointing oil during the May 14, 2017 service without any preference given to Bolanle, who waited endlessly with her entourage.
She was said to have later moved to be anointed and moments later, stormed out of the church, as some of the women leaders ran after her, pleading with her to stay.
On May 15, 2017, the priest was sacked via a letter signed by the chairman, governing council of the Chapel, Mr. Olugbenga Solomon.
But two and a half years later, the state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, through the ministry of home affairs and culture,
Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, presented a gift to Taiwo on behalf of the government.
It was gathered that the commissioner was joined by top officials of the ministry alongside the congregation, consisting of church members, family, friends and well wishers of the cleric at the presentation ceremony.
Punch quotes the cleric as thanking the state governor for the honour and appreciating Nigerians for their kind words.
“I thank God for His faithfulness and the uncommon grace and rare privilege He has given to me.
“I thank the Lagos State Government and Mr. Governor, Aduramigba Iyanuoluwa Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
“I appreciate you and everyone. In the midst of the storm of life, you stood by me.
“The day I was to leave here, I saw angels coming down in the form of men.
“Spontaneously, I saw members of this church come around me and providing all a man could need to survive.
“What happened that day, nobody prepared for it; nobody thought of it. But God went ahead and made the crooked way straight.
“I thank and appreciate all of you and I pray that the glory of God will shine on your lives.
“Throughout the time I spent here, I had no regrets, because you were all around me.
“That is why I cannot forget this place; I cannot forget your beautiful faces,” he said.
