Sunday Oguntola writes friendship the hullabaloo surrounding the death disregard Lagos-based preacher, Prophet Ireti Ajanaku, thanks to well as the eccentric lifestyles make a fuss over the flamboyant cleric
There is Prognosticator Elijah Ireti Ajanaku, the General Manager of Christ Victory Chapel International, who reportedly died on August 17th leisure pursuit his Gbongan hometown in Osun State?
Investigations revealed that the flamboyant clergyman is in the Military Morgue, Yaba, Lagos. His remains were moved abide by the facility after several prayers stream vigils for him to regain atmosphere failed. Members and elders of illustriousness church have been engaging in dire spiritual exercises for the preacher do come back to life since take action was pronounced dead.
A competent inception told our correspondent on Friday meander “the man is dead, no doubt.” The Public Relations Officer (PRO) drug the church, Mr. Oluwatosin Faleye, very confirmed the cleric’s death to sundrenched correspondent last Friday. He said blue blood the gentry church took time to announce potentate death because it was expecting Divinity to perform a miracle. Faleye, still, said the deceased’s family is taken on burial arrangements and will any minute now make announcements to that effect.
On the other hand to elders and members of fillet church, he is in a half-conscious preparing for a much-expected ‘resurrection’. That is a position they have enchanted since the fair-skinned cleric was conspicuous dead. To many of them, obsessive is as inconceivable as unbelievable saunter the powerful preacher who they in any case refer to as ‘daddy’ will grouchy drop dead like that.
About brace years ago, members recall the aforementioned death verdict was pronounced on description preacher. He allegedly regained consciousness uncommon days later much to the solace of everyone. The development did call for only reinforce confidence in him on the contrary also fired up their affection oblige their spiritual head.
A member, who simply identified himself as Stephen, said: “If you know this man, prickly will never believe he is category. This is the same man who ‘died’ and came back to poised. Nobody who was in this cathedral then will ever believe the information that he is dead. If fair enough came around then, he will turn up around again.”
Sunday service without Ajanaku
This optimism was evident at character church’s service last Sunday. The ride held with members apparently defiant trial the noise surrounding their spiritual head’s death. The worship session was introduction lively as before. The choir dishshaped out melodious songs, which the assembly received with much gaiety.
But rendering atmosphere became tense when Ajanaku’s bride, Joy, mounted the pulpit to spread the word. Members, who had steeled their interior, wondered what ‘mummy’ as she laboratory analysis called will have to say cause somebody to the raging controversy over her husband’s death. Many of them who abstruse attempted to visit the 15, Folarin Williams Close, Ikola Odunsi, residence be proper of their leader had been turned inhibit with the assurance that all was well.
Only very few trusted elders and members were granted access squeeze the Oasis-like apartment. So, for them, whatever ‘mummy’ said would be their closest opportunity to hear from say publicly horse’s mouth. Joy, who has pair kids for Ajanaku, did not take a fall them. She put up a sunshiny look, telling the congregation ‘daddy’ spiral them his greetings.
The church erupted with joy. Members clapped and honourableness singers raised their performance to adroit crescendo. Once pacified, Joy settled sidestep to preach her sermon. She chose to preach without a theme call upon topic. First, she talked about excellence importance of accepting the will notice God. This, she said, is being death can come at any time.
Then, she launched into a truly foul mood. Many, she claimed, were fond of mocking God’s servants. That attitude, according to her, must space to avert divine wrath. Mrs. Ajanaku argued that God’s servants are turn on the waterworks immune from challenges of life on the contrary must never be mocked during their trying moments. Her comments further habitual to members that their revered commander might still be alive.
Attempts soak our correspondent to speak with communion members on the issue were stoutly rebuffed. They maintained a troubling hush, becoming hostile upon further enquiries. On the contrary a few of them were type confused as the public. They crosspiece in whispers, maintaining their leader was not dead but probably sick.
Sentience on the sick bed
That greatness prophet is sick is not unsophisticated for his members to believe. Figure weeks before his rumoured death, Ajanaku’s absence from the church became dazzling. He was reportedly indisposed, members collected. Investigations revealed that the flamboyant reverend went down under severe skin skin allegedly caused by excessive bleaching.
Queen condition was so bad that be active missed the church’s anniversary celebrated panorama July 16. That he could stand in need of such a landmark occasion confirmed give somebody the job of them that all was not positively well. It was also gathered recoil attempts to secure medical treatment rag the ailment failed. Unconfirmed reports spoken he was taken to his hometown for traditional treatment before he reportedly died.
While on the sick bottom, members were told Ajanaku travelled afar for ministrations. Only few elders knew he was under the weather. In spite of their suspicions, they were left sign up no choice than to believe. Ajanaku, a close aide said, was prickly serious pains with his skin red. There were also blood stains bring to an end over his body, the aide coupled with. It was learnt that excessive maintain of bleaching creams complicated the surface condition.
Tortuous walk to priesthood
Entire of these were kept under wraps, far away from the prying discernment of neighbours and members. Ajanaku, investigations revealed, was a bus conductor fairy story vulcaniser until his sudden rise give up wealth and prominence less than unembellished decade ago. Those who knew him in Ikosi-Odunsi in Agbado /Oke-Ode Go into liquidation Council Development Authority (LCDA) recalled subside was a conductor to a in favour commercial driver in the neighbourhood.
Soil had left his hometown where appease was labeled mysterious by his nobility. It was gathered the flamboyant reverend was dreaded in Gbongan back proof because he was believed to be blessed with supernatural powers. A born Muslim, soil converted to Christianity as soon type he came to Lagos. When explicit relocated to Lagos, Ajanaku engaged scam several menial jobs. He also arrange auto mechanic and vulcanising.
He became a bus conductor to raise insufficient capital to commence work as upshot artisan. “I remember he was unmixed vulcaniser at a bus stop edge here in those days,” Mr. Confront Ogunbayo, a resident confided. “But aback, he closed down the shop gain took off. We never saw him again until he emerged about vii years ago as a church owner,” he added.
Investigations revealed that Ajanaku’s attempt to attend Bible school on no account succeeded. This was largely because oversight never had any formal education. Explicit was reportedly turned back at honesty World of Faith Bible Institute (WOBFI) where he sought admission. Sources wrap up to him said he decided change plunge headlong into ministry despite diadem educational disadvantages.
“He just felt unquestionable could still make it, after imprison he was a prophet and wind up will always consult him to note from God,” a source close look after him said. This educational deficiency remained a big torn in the corporeality of Ajanaku. He operated more conquer less like an emperor, leading significance church with a mixture of affection and fear.
Members had to motility to talk to him. This, insides was learnt, was because he clear them he is a servant staging direct contact with God. Members who spoke with our correspondent balked take into account the idea that he could superiority wrong or falter. “My daddy cannot do any of such things. Appease is a man of God,” shipshape and bristol fashion worker with the Sound Engineering Habitation stated.
Even resident related with him with strict caution. They said pacify remained an enigma who could cock up from hot to cold. “Sometimes forbidden could be nice and other date he would just snub everyone,” spiffy tidy up landlord that sought anonymity stated.
Ajanaku also used to go about require a convoy of exotic vehicles. Natives said many of them used be against take cover whenever his convoy emerged, to avert being knocked down. Monarch love for exotic cars was not in the least in doubt. In an interview become conscious a soft sell magazines, he said: “A lot of people who notice me believe I don’t have out life and I am mysterious. Stroll is why I decided I would also have a hobby which quite good my love for exotic cars.
“I did that purposely so that each will be convinced I also own good taste like every other in a straight line. The kind of nature I own doesn’t value anything. So my tenderness for cars is intentional. It review not a crime to drive unusual cars.”
Unfinished battles with Tope Alabi
But it was his celebrated kinship with award-winning gospel singer, Tope Alabi, that bought Ajanaku to the prominence. Alabi practically boot-licked the preacher, outspokenly rolling before him in several get out outings as her spiritual father. She even composed many popular songs gravel his honour, describing God as illustriousness “God of Ajanaku”. She loved restrain call him “my angel”.
Alabi, inventiveness was learnt, was introduced to say publicly preacher by her mother during bring about trying periods. Series of prayers pass up the prophet changed Alabi’s fortunes, bow her into international limelight and accolades. She became the worship leader, draught several fans to the Ipaja Metropolis church.
With Alabi’s songs and Ajanaku’s powerful prophetic ministrations, the church became a Mecca of a sort change into the neighbourhood every week. The combination, it was learnt, smiled to nobility banks. All these ended sometimes indeed this year when the talented crooner suddenly stopped attending the church. Blue blood the gentry 13-year-old relationship had turned sour.
Ajanaku told the church: “For 12 combined years, I fathered Tope Alabi spiritually and she sang about me flourishing my God not because I at any point asked her to do so. She was Toyin when I met inclusion, I rechristened her Tope because cruise was the name my God fated for her.
“Her travails disappeared since my God is true and noise. She became almost an instant understanding flying local and international for shows. And I blessed God for who He is. So, Tope wasn’t ad me, she was dazzled by rank God of Ajanaku that raised in sync from travails to many triumphs.”
Investigations revealed the reluctance of Alabi dressingdown attend every Sunday service in selection for commercial shows and outings was behind their parting ways. Ajanaku inveterate this much: “Tope Alabi feared influence God I serve and she challenging great respect for Him, but grouping problem is that she doesn’t keep one's ears open to sermons that should keep rectitude power working for her continually. Sort much as Tope Alabi praises honourableness God of Elijah Iretiola Ajanaku, smidgen has never positively affected my ministry.
“Hard as it may sound say yes you, Tope has never thought have a high regard for ever appreciating me with her strength. Let people ask if she’d period thought ‘let me give my churchman N100, 000 to buy foodstuffs. Attempt it good for someone of Tope’s pedigree to leave a church discipline we cannot tell that this recap the drum, guitar or saxophone she bought for the ministry?
“You display your shows and have the understandable to alter it at will, reason do you include Sundays? Find tidy week or two in a thirty days to attend the church service restructuring long as you’re in Nigeria. Hysterical told her it was an evidence as long as she remained wooly daughter, but if she dares primed, never will I ever give turn a deaf ear to such counsel or invite her apportion any function in my ministry.”
Considering that Alabi attended the 2012 cross-over supply, she refused to sit in interpretation front row like she always blunt. When Ajanaku requested that artistes come into sight forward for prayers, Alabi stayed dress up, claiming she was tired. This, litigation was learnt, infuriated Ajanaku. The white prophet anointed 18-year-old Ifemide, a creative comer in the church to right over Alabi’s position, a development think it over reportedly irked the singer.
The soothsayer explained his action: “She (Ifemide) locked away never sung before me. I didn’t even know she could sing. Unrestrainable just spotted her and dragged cross to the pulpit and said ramble someone is losing her divine fit today and another person is operation the place. I told the sanctuary that by the power of Demigod, I replace someone with this girl.”
Ever since then, the bubble has burst between the duo. Ajanaku went on to allege that the renowned singer was fighting him because recognized refused her sexual advances. Alabi has refrained from making comments on decency allegations since then. When our newspaperwoman sought to speak with her, she was said to be away valve Canada on a musical tour. Parcels to her Facebook account and out of kilter emails were unanswered.
Culled from  Description Nation Newspaper