EXTRA: Lagos chaplain sacked for ‘disrespecting Ambode’s wife’
Femi Taiwo, the presiding chaplain of the Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, Lagos, has lost his job, allegedly because he did not accord preferential treatment to Bolanle Ambode, the first lady of the state.
According to PUNCH, Taiwo was sacked on Monday, May 14, a day after the anointing service during which the incident happened.
The church members reportedly filed out for anointing, and Ambode was said to have spent quite some time on the queue before it eventually got to her turn.
After receiving her anointing, she was said to have stormed out in annoyance and ignored the women leaders who rushed after her.
A church member was quoted as saying that, “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 termination was carried out by the governing council allegedly on the order of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
The cleric and his family were said to have been ordered out of their official abode.
Taiwo refused to comment on the matter, saying: “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.”
Steve Ayorinde, the state commissioner for information and strategy, said Taiwo’s termination had nothing to do with the governor’s wife.
“The former chaplain had been queried a number of times in the past for conducts unbecoming of his office. The culmination of various indiscretions led to the Governing Council of the church issuing yet another query that led to his being relieved of his post,” he was quoted as saying.
“This has got nothing to do with the First Lady. The Chaplain is looking for an excuse to cover his insouciance. It’s nothing but cheap blackmail.”
Taiwo’s tenure as presiding chaplain was not to end for another two years.
i know the chaplain quite well. quite a stand up fella and quite charming. i am surprised he can be removed from post for any flimsy reason as the wife of the lagos state governor. i am sure there is more to these than meets the eye but would keep on watching this space for further development
God did not make her 1st lady. The people did. Power belonging to God. In a democracy all power belongs to the people. Any haughtiness by the 1st lady is unbecoming and indefensible. Are we a nation of laws or of men?
WE ARE ALL EQUAL BEFORE GOD,WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO OUR CHRISTIANITY,THRRE IS NOTGING WRONG IN THE GOVERNOR’S WIFE WAITING HER TURN,WHEN WE DIE AND GO BEFORE GOD,LET HER GO AND JUMP THE QUEUE AND CLAIM SHE IS A GOVENOR’S WIFE.WHAT NONSENSE,THE CHURCH ITSEKF HAS GONE POLITUCAL THATS WHY I DONT BOTHER ANYMORE!
Need I remind you that God is not a respecter of anyone and we are equal in God’s presence. The article said the program was for spiritual cleansing and the anointing was optional so she didn’t have to but she did for her own benefit and stormed out there after. What a waste of the anointing.. I have seen pictures of the Obama’s sitting at the back in the church because the arrive late. If it were here the pastor will ask another poor couple who sacrificed their breakfast to get there early to vacate their seat for the late coming official,, SHAME.
CAN should investigate and if exonerated, should withdraw it members from the Chaplin. Let the government officials conduct the service. But we know better, CAN would rather punish it’s own than stop the envelop following.
At this point I’m going to convert to Islam, I’m told for the service to commence there can be no space reserved in the front rows and everyone will seat accordingly.
We never hear the full tory. Ambodes wife is not known to have such bad attitude that comes with most first ladies. The governor we have is enlightened enough not to take such poor decisions as sacking a vicar even if the vicar truly disrespected his wife. I’m sure the lead man is wise enough to know that there many ways to kill a rat without drawing blood. I don’t know the 1st couple personally but I won’t judge them based on this because they don’t have such history of victimizing people talk of more of a man of God.there’s more to this story . this vicar must have done some things unbecoming of a man of God. We’re awaiting the remaining true story.
This is total nonsense…If the Chaplain was relieved of the post because of the Governor’s wife,then May the God of Justice deal with all involved in perpetuating this act.
Office of the first lady is a mere appendage. Why arrogate so much importance to it. This is abuse of authority and it is childish for the governor to act irrationally.