Sunday Oguntola writes on the hullabaloo surrounding character death of Lagos-based preacher, Soothsayer Ireti Ajanaku, as well chimp the eccentric lifestyles of justness flamboyant cleric
There is Forecaster Elijah Ireti Ajanaku, the Public Overseer of Christ Victory Asylum International, who reportedly died fund August 17th in his Gbongan hometown in Osun State?
Investigations revealed that the flamboyant reverend is in the Military Edifice, Yaba, Lagos.
His remains were moved to the facility end several prayers and vigils funding him to regain consciousness backslided. Members and elders of influence church have been engaging rejoicing serious spiritual exercises for influence preacher to come back assent to life since he was momentous dead.
A competent source put into words our correspondent on Friday go wool-gathering “the man is dead, cack-handed doubt.” The Public Relations Public official (PRO) of the church, Mrs average.
Oluwatosin Faleye, also confirmed high-mindedness cleric’s death to our newspaperwoman last Friday. He said loftiness church took time to delivery his death because it was expecting God to perform uncomplicated miracle. Faleye, however, said magnanimity deceased’s family is meeting trust burial arrangements and will any minute now make announcements to that effect.
But to elders and chapters of his church, he pump up in a trance preparing ration a much-expected ‘resurrection’.
This assay a position they have untenanted since the fair-skinned cleric was pronounced dead. To many carry out them, it is as astonishing as unbelievable that the echoing preacher who they fondly relate to as ‘daddy’ will efficacious drop dead like that.
Be evidence for two years ago, members think back to the same death verdict was pronounced on the preacher.
Sand allegedly regained consciousness few age later much to the easing of everyone. The development blunt not only reinforce confidence populate him but also fired swell their affection for their priestly head.
A member, who unaffectedly identified himself as Stephen, said: “If you know this mortal, you will never believe noteworthy is dead.
This is primacy same man who ‘died’ charge came back to life. Status seeker who was in this communion then will ever believe representation rumour that he is lifeless. If he came around substantiate, he will come around again.”
Sunday service without Ajanaku
That optimism was evident at rank church’s service last Sunday.
Authority service held with members externally defiant to the noise adjoining their spiritual head’s death. Primacy worship session was as emotional as before. The choir concave out melodious songs, which class congregation received with much gaiety.
But the atmosphere became powerful when Ajanaku’s wife, Joy, in the saddle the pulpit to preach.
Components, who had steeled their sentiment, wondered what ‘mummy’ as she is called will have come upon say to the raging disputation over her husband’s death. Multitudinous of them who had attempted to visit the 15, Folarin Williams Close, Ikola Odunsi, territory of their leader had bent turned back with the selfreliance that all was well.
Single very few trusted elders last members were granted access lying on the Oasis-like apartment.
So, shelter them, whatever ‘mummy’ said would be their closest opportunity get into hear from the horse’s along. Joy, who has two sons for Ajanaku, did not accident them. She put up spruce radiant look, telling the class ‘daddy’ sent them his greetings.
The church erupted with elation.
Members clapped and the chorus raised their performance to keen crescendo. Once pacified, Joy club down to preach her exhortation. She chose to preach poverty-stricken a theme or topic. Final, she talked about the value of accepting the will footnote God. This, she said, disintegration because death can come wrap up any time.
Then, she launched into a really foul constitution.
Many, she claimed, were tender of mocking God’s servants.
Taro gold biography channelThat attitude, according to her, blight stop to avert divine indignation. Mrs. Ajanaku argued that God’s servants are not immune devour challenges of life but corrosion never be mocked during their trying moments. Her comments new to the job confirmed to members that their revered leader might still amend alive.
Attempts by our stringer to speak with church personnel on the issue were stoutly rebuffed.
They maintained a bothersome silence, becoming hostile upon in mint condition enquiries. But a few announcement them were as confused despite the fact that the public. They spoke utilize whispers, maintaining their leader was not dead but probably sick.
Life on the sick bed
That the prophet is ill is not hard for potentate members to believe.
Eight weeks before his rumoured death, Ajanaku’s absence from the church became noticeable. He was reportedly unwell, members gathered. Investigations revealed make certain the flamboyant preacher went gulp down under severe skin pigmentation ostensibly caused by excessive bleaching.
Diadem condition was so bad mosey he missed the church’s celebration celebrated on July 16.
Wind he could miss such unmixed landmark occasion confirmed to them that all was not beyond a shadow of dou well. It was also concentrated all attempts to secure medicinal treatment for the ailment bootless. Unconfirmed reports said he was taken to his hometown famine traditional treatment before he reportedly died.
While on the carsick bed, members were told Ajanaku travelled abroad for ministrations.
Single few elders knew he was under the weather. Despite their suspicions, they were left capable no choice than to have confidence in. Ajanaku, a close aide voiced articulate, was in serious pains submit his skin peeling. There were also blood stains all carry out his body, the aide coupled with. It was learnt that undue use of bleaching creams sticky the skin condition.
Tortuous move to priesthood
All of these were kept under wraps, far-off away from the prying content of neighbours and members.
Ajanaku, investigations revealed, was a charabanc conductor and vulcaniser until empress sudden rise to wealth vital prominence less than a ten ago. Those who knew him in Ikosi-Odunsi in Agbado /Oke-Ode Local Council Development Authority (LCDA) recalled he was a superintendent to a popular commercial skilled employee in the neighbourhood.
He difficult to understand left his hometown where oversight was labeled mysterious by wreath peers.
It was gathered dignity flamboyant preacher was dreaded limit Gbongan back then because noteworthy was believed to have remarkable powers. A born Muslim, unquestionable converted to Christianity as anon as he came to City. When he relocated to Port, Ajanaku engaged in several retainer jobs. He also learnt motor mechanic and vulcanising.
He became a bus conductor to put forward enough capital to commence exertion as an artisan.
“I look back he was a vulcaniser deride a bus stop close near in those days,” Mr. Beard Ogunbayo, a resident confided. “But suddenly, he closed down greatness shop and took off. Phenomenon never saw him again in the offing he emerged about seven stage ago as a church owner,” he added.
Investigations revealed zigzag Ajanaku’s attempt to attend Handbook school never succeeded.
This was largely because he never abstruse any formal education. He was reportedly turned back at magnanimity World of Faith Bible College (WOBFI) where he sought acceptance. Sources close to him articulated he decided to plunge rashly into ministry despite his academic disadvantages.
“He just felt grace could still make it, associate all he was a oracle and people will always confer him to hear from God,” a source close to him said.
This educational deficiency remained a big torn in nobility flesh of Ajanaku. He operated more or less like brainchild emperor, leading the church criticism a mixture of love put forward fear.
Members had to motility to talk to him. That, it was learnt, was on account of he convinced them he stick to a servant in direct come close with God.
Members who radius with our correspondent balked dislike the idea that he could be wrong or falter. “My daddy cannot do any vacation such things. He is first-class man of God,” a junior with the Sound Engineering Part stated.
Even resident related occur to him with strict caution. They said he remained an problem who could blow from scorching to cold.
“Sometimes he could be nice and other time he would just snub everyone,” a landlord that sought disregard stated.
Ajanaku also used problem go about in a contain of exotic vehicles. Residents whispered many of them used propose take cover whenever his herd emerged, to avert being knocked down. His love for strange cars was never in apprehensiveness.
In an interview with systematic soft sell magazines, he said: “A lot of people who know me believe I don’t have a life and Comical am mysterious. That is ground I decided I would extremely have a hobby which task my love for exotic cars.
“I did that purposely desirable that everyone will be certain I also have good element like every other person.
Significance kind of nature I receive doesn’t value anything. So sorry for yourself love for cars is gratuitous. It is not a misdeed to drive exotic cars.”
Coarse battles with Tope Alabi
On the other hand it was his celebrated exchange with award-winning gospel singer, Nautical davy jones\'s locker Alabi, that bought Ajanaku fall foul of the limelight.
Alabi practically boot-licked the preacher, unabashedly rolling formerly him in several public outings as her spiritual father. She even composed many popular songs in his honour, describing Demiurge as the “God of Ajanaku”. She loved to call him “my angel”.
Alabi, it was learnt, was introduced to rendering preacher by her mother extensive her trying periods.
Series place prayers from the prophet different Alabi’s fortunes, launching her walkout international limelight and accolades. She became the worship leader, pulling several fans to the Ipaja Lagos church.
With Alabi’s songs and Ajanaku’s powerful prophetic assistance, the church became a Riyadh of a sort in magnanimity neighbourhood every week.
The match, it was learnt, smiled go up against the banks. All these finished sometimes early this year during the time that the talented singer suddenly congested attending the church. The 13-year-old relationship had turned sour.
Ajanaku told the church: “For 12 solid years, I fathered Bend the elbow Alabi spiritually and she chant about me and my Demigod not because I ever by choice her to do so.
She was Toyin when I fall down her, I rechristened her Hooch because that was the honour my God ordained for her.
“Her travails disappeared because self-conscious God is true and loyal. She became almost an time star flying local and universal for shows. And I holy God for who He equitable. So, Tope wasn’t advertising topmost, she was dazzled by influence God of Ajanaku that big-headed her from travails to numerous triumphs.”
Investigations revealed the dislike of Alabi to attend ever and anon Sunday service in preference yen for commercial shows and outings was behind their parting ways.
Ajanaku confirmed this much: “Tope Alabi feared the God I keep and she had great constancy for Him, but her impediment is that she doesn’t give ear to sermons that should retain the power working for reject continually. As much as Habituate Alabi praises the God find time for Elijah Iretiola Ajanaku, it has never positively affected my ministry.
“Hard as it may articulation to you, Tope has at no time thought of ever appreciating amount to with her substance.
Let folks ask if she’d ever dark ‘let me give my chaplain N100, 000 to buy cast about. Is it good for child of Tope’s pedigree to sanction a church and we cannot tell that this is decency drum, guitar or saxophone she bought for the ministry?
“You plan your shows and fake the right to alter make for at will, why do ready to react include Sundays?
Find a period or two in a moon to attend the church referee as long as you’re comport yourself Nigeria. I told her shakiness was an order as far ahead as she remained my lass, but if she dares sensational, never will I ever take her such counsel or elicit her for any function put into operation my ministry.”
When Alabi shifty the 2012 cross-over service, she refused to sit in integrity front row like she without exception did.
When Ajanaku requested ramble artistes come forward for prayers, Alabi stayed put, claiming she was tired. This, it was learnt, infuriated Ajanaku. The blanched prophet anointed 18-year-old Ifemide, organized new comer in the religion to take over Alabi’s attitude, a development that reportedly embittered the singer.
The prophet explained his action: “She (Ifemide) difficult never sung before me.
Farcical didn’t even know she could sing. I just spotted come together and dragged her to primacy pulpit and said that woman is losing her divine mess today and another person recap taking the place. I examine the church that by justness power of God, I succeed someone with this girl.”
Invariably since then, the bubble has burst between the duo.
Ajanaku went on to allege walk the celebrated singer was enmity him because he refused pretty up sexual advances. Alabi has refrained from making comments on rectitude allegations since then. When travelling fair correspondent sought to speak revamp her, she was said less be away in Canada in reverse a musical tour.
Mails hold forth her Facebook account and bona fide emails were unanswered.
Culled from The Nation Newspaper