Femi Taiwo was sacked for
allegedly disrespecting wife of the then governor, Bolanle Ambode. His sacked
fuelled controversies lasting for months.
The Governor Babajide
Sanwo-Olu’s led Lagos State Government has honoured former presiding Chaplain
of the Chapel of Christ the Light, Venerable Femi Taiwo, who was sacked by
former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
Some people have even
attributed Ambode’s debacle in the last APC primaries to the sacking of the
priest.
However, the former priest
was honoured at the chapel amidst cheers from the The congregation, family
members and friends.
Commissioner for Home Affairs
and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, who was joined by top officials of the
ministry, presented a gift to Taiwo on behalf of the government.
The special service, which
held for about 30 minutes, was kept under wraps, as many church members were not
informed, PUNCH reports.
However, Governor Babajide
Sanwo-Olu administration, through the Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture,
honoured Taiwo after he was humiliated by the Ambodes.
A member of the chapel said
the special service was kept secret, adding that officials of the ministry,
including the commissioner, special adviser, permanent secretary and some
members of staff were present.
“Everything was done very
quickly too. We started with a hymn, followed by an address by the special
adviser to the governor. After a brief remarks, the commissioner presented a
gift to Taiwo,” he stated.
The source said though the
government’s action was commendable, the Church wanted the priest to be
honoured in a bigger way.
A senior official of the
chapel said he got a text about the event around 2.00 p.m. on Tuesday.
He insisted that the
programme was an initiative of the state government.
He stated, “I got a text
stating that the ministry was coming to the chapel to honour Venerable Taiwo. Some
members started sharing and spreading the message till late last night
(Tuesday).
“When we arrived, the
special adviser to the governor was the first to talk.
“He said something like,
‘Since I have been in Alausa, nobody has told me that you (Taiwo) stole money;
nobody said you are a womaniser.’ It was a very brief remark testifying to the
integrity of the priest and I believe that was all Venerable Taiwo wanted.”
Taiwo said, “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.”
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