Ambode Sacks Chaplain, Kicks Family Out of Residence for ‘Disrespecting’ Wife

Governor of Lagos State Akinwunmi Ambode ordered the removal of the Chaplain of the Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, Lagos State, Venerable Femi Taiwo, and had his family kicked out of his official residence, 24 hours after an anointing service.

The church is under the Lagos State Ministry of Home Affairs, while the Office of the Lagos State First Lady supervises church.

Taiwo was reportedly sacked for allegedly disrespecting the governor’s wife during an anointing service on Monday, May 15, without any query or official reason stated in the sack letter.

The Punch reports that the government insisted that Taiwan be removed despite pleas from church leaders that he be retained.

According to the Punch, Taiwo allegedly angered, the governor’s wife, Bolanle Ambode, during an anointing service on Sunday, May 14.

Church members were said to have filed out to receive anointing oil during the May 14 but no preference was accorded the Mrs Ambode. She alledgedly stormed out of the church, as some of the women leaders ran after her.

Bolanle, who was reported to be visibly angry, allegedly shunned entreaties from the women, which included the wife of the presiding chaplain.

The cleric was sacked the next day.

The termination letter was dated, May 15, 2017, and signed by the Chairman, Governing Council of CCTL, Mr. Olugbenga Solomon. The letter also ordered the Assistant Chaplain, Very Rev. Ayo Oyadotun, to take over  with immediate effect.

A church member, who witnessed the drama and begged not to be identified, said , “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.

“The First Lady, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, was present with her entourage. She comes to the church once in a while.

“When it was time to be anointed, the cleric asked people to come forward, adding that it was optional. 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 and was anointed.”

The source said within a few minutes of taking the oil, Bolanle, who felt disrespected, stepped out with her entourage.

Another member of the church  said, “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.

He said, “Let me be straight with you, in the letter there was no reason for the sack. Whatever you are hearing are what members of the church believed could have happened. And there was indeed a protest by the church and the governing council assuaged them on the sacking.

“There was nothing official in that sacking. No investigation, no query, nothing. We had an anointing service on that Sunday. The following day, the venerable was served the sack letter,” a church leader who asked not to be named said.

Taiwo also refused to comment about the reason he was sacked.

He said, “If you have any enquiry, direct it to the church. But one thing I can say is that I have tried as a pastor to live above board. It will not be right engaging the church or the government on the pages of a newspaper.”

The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, said Taiwo was sacked for “past conducts unbecoming of his office”

He however did not say specifically identify the conducts.