By Chibuike Nwabuko
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, said that Governing Council endorsed the sacking of the Champlain of Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, Ikeja, Venerable Femi Taiwo.
Bamgbola made the statement during a briefing attended by the leaders of CAN, representatives of the Christian Council of Nigeria and the African Church
Bamgbola who said the Governing Council of the Chapel which hired him had the power to fire him, endorsed the sack of the Chaplian.
The CAN Chairman who pooh-poohed the question on why the order for Taiwo, his wife and kids to vacate their official quarters within 24 hours, stressed that the matter be allowed to rest.
According to PUNCH Metro, Taiwo’s sacking came after Bolanle, the wife of the state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, stormed out of an anointing service at the chapel on May 14.
Members of the church had told our Punch correspondent that Bolanle was angry because she was not anointed first.
It was reported that some members of the church’s governing council were used by Bolanle, who felt embarrassed by the Sunday incident.
No query was issued to Taiwo on the matter before he was kicked out.
The outrage that trailed the report made the state government to change the venue of the Lagos at 50 thanksgiving service from the chapel to the banquet hall of the state house, Ikeja.
Taiwo’s leader at the African Church, Ifako Diocese, Rt. Rev. Michael Adeyemi, had, in an exclusive interview with a newspaper, described the action of Bolanle as ungodly and sacrilegious.
On Tuesday at a press briefing organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Home Affairs in the church, the CAN Chairman, Bamgbola, lauded the Lagos State Government for its achievements, adding that the governor and his wife had moved the state forward.
He said, “Over the past three weeks, while thanking our God and celebrating our jubilee in Lagos State, one very simple matter has been dominating the social media. This is the issue of the severance of the employment of Venerable Femi Taiwo, the former Presiding Chaplain of the chapel, by his employers.
“As a result of the unfortunate misunderstanding of the issue, caused by erroneous publications in the print and social media, we believe CAN, Lagos State, must make clarifications to educate the public on this matter.
“First, the CCTL was built by the state government for itself, its family of Christian employees and for the public at large.
“Second, the government created a standing legal constitution for the CCTL, which has guided the running of the chapel for years. According to that constitution, CCTL is under the leadership of a governing council, which reports to the Ministry of Home Affairs. All religious bodies in this state report to the ministry.
“The governing council of the chapel has the constitutional responsibility to recruit and terminate the appointment of two officers who run the chapel. The two officers are the presiding chaplain, who is the senior officer; and the chaplain, who is the deputy. The two are officers of the chapel and officers of the government of Lagos State.”
He said CAN had investigated the matter and discovered that the governing council sacked Taiwo within its constitutional powers.
“In particular is the accusation against our responsible and most revered First Lady, Deaconess Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, as being instrumental in the termination of the chaplain in the course of one anointing service.
“We wish to state clearly that this is far from the truth. Deaconess Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, as far as we know, is a true woman of God, who fears God and lives a godly life and whom it has pleased God to raise to be the First Lady at this time. We must be careful with God in all we do. The Bible says in Matthew 7:1, ‘Judge not, so that you are not judged.’” he added.
A statement by the home affairs ministry’s spokesman, Lookman Seriki, also stated that CAN backed the sacking of the presiding chaplain.