The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Lagos State Chapter on Tuesday denied involvement of the wife of the State Governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode in the sacking of former Presiding Chaplain of Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, Venerable Femi Taiwo, saying that the allegation was not only untrue but unjust and erroneous.



A newspaper had alleged in its series of reports that Taiwo was sacked for allegedly disrespecting Mrs Ambode by failing to accord her due recognition during an anointing service.



But addressing a press conference at the church premises on Tuesday, CAN leadership in the State, denied the allegation, saying that the Governing Council of the church acted within the law to relieve the chaplain of his duties.



CAN Chairman in the State, Apostle Alex Bamgbola said the information contained in the media reports was totally far from the truth, and that it was unfortunate that the public was fed with totally untrue story.



He said for the records, the chapel was established by the State Government for its officials and members of the public with a Governing Council running its affairs through a standing Constitution.



He said under the constitution of the chapel, the Governing Council, which reports to the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Home Affairs, has the legal authority to appoint two officers to run the church who are the Presiding Chaplain and the Chaplain.



He said: “The Governing Council has the constitutional responsibility and authority to recruit and to terminate two officers who run the Chapel who are the presiding Chaplain, who is the senior officer and the Chaplain, who is the deputy. So, the presiding chaplain and the chaplain are officers of the chapel and officers of the government of Lagos State.



“With this clarification, it should be known by the general public that these two officers who run the chapel are strictly officers of the State Government and they are subject to terms and conditions of employment of the State Government.



“When this matter began, many well-meaning Christians and elders tried to look at things and see how to work on the issue so that it does not get to the point we have seen. Well, the fact is, having investigated the matter carefully and objectively, that is CAN Lagos State, we wish to state here today that the Governing Council that recruited Venerable Taiwo acted within its constitutional authority to terminate the appointment of Venerable Taiwo,” Bamgbola said.



He added that the allegation and especially the appointing fingers on the wife of the Governor was absolutely unfortunate, and it was most unfortunate that a media house decided to sell its paper with untrue story.



Bamgbola, who addressed the briefing alongside top leaders of CAN in the State, said: “In particular and most unfortunate is the accusation of our revered and most responsible First Lady of Lagos State, Deaconess Mrs Bolanle Ambode as being instrumental to the termination of the appointment of the presiding chaplain because of one anointing service.



“We wish to state clearly here today that this is far from the truth. We want the press to know this and we want to thank all of you because the press has been quite on this matter except a particular paper that has been selling its paper through this matter which is unjust, unfair and does not portray professionalism.



“Deaconess Mrs Bolanle Ambode as far as we know is a true woman of God who fears God and lives a godly live and whom it has pleased God to raise to be first Lady of Lagos State at this time. The error of judgment by the said newspaper is most unfortunate and unfair to her, unfair to the entire Lagos State Government and unfair to the church at large in Lagos.



“We are therefore appealing to the press and the social media to please desist henceforth from publishing and circulating erroneous publication concerning this matter,” he said.



When asked whether Taiwo was given notice before ejection from his official residence, Bamgbola answered in the affirmative, but said it would be inappropriate to start discussing the offence of the chaplain on the pages of newspaper.



He said for now, the CAN leadership has taken over the matter and would resolve it, but urged media practitioners to desist from circulating untrue story to the public.



Also speaking, Rt Rev. Michael Adeyemi, Bishop of African Church, Ifako Diocese, the church where the former chaplain was seconded to the Chapel, said the church was satisfied with the position taken so far by CAN.



He said: “The matter is already under the control of CAN. We are very much satisfied with what CAN is doing. We appreciate Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and our mother, his wife, Mrs Bolanle Ambode. The Governor has achieved a lot in the State and we are satisfied with him.



“On behalf of African Church, I will appeal that we are happy with CAN. The most important thing is to do what will glorify God. We have the mandate of African Church to say that we are in agreement with what CAN is doing on the matter,” Adeyemi said.



Other clergymen who attended the briefing are Lagos State CAN Secretary, Baba Aladura, Isreal Adewo; Lagos State CAN Treasurer, Rt Rev. Stephen Adegbite of Methodist Church; CAN Vice Chairman, Lagos State, Rev Dr Emmanuel Oguntoshin; and Bishop Adebanjo Gabriel Taiwo of African Church.





SIGNED

LOOKMAN SERIKI

PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER

MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

LAGOS STATE

MAY 30, 2017

http://www.metronaija.com/2017/05/chaplain-lagos-can-backs-ambode-says.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

nonesense,because of peanuts, they're saying nonesense, he wasn't found wanting,not until she came for the communion service.

We don hear you x the question is this why was he sacked? Or he has reached retirement age?
Anyway hope the Apostle was not ordained by the ministries of home affairs

Hmmm... OK o

Politics in the church

“We wish to state here today that the Governing Council that recruited Venerable Taiwo acted within its constitutional authority to terminate the appointment of Venerable Taiwo,” Bamgbola said.

And the appointment of Venerable Taiwo had to be terminated right after the incident with Jezebelian foolish Deaconess Bolanle Ambode?

I am not surprised a bit the church has become country clubs where egotistical wretch of a governor's wife thinks membership means having privileges and perks over everyone else rather than serving, caring for others, praying for leaders, learning, teaching, giving and, in some cases, dying for the sake of the gospel.

Even CAN has lost the biblical understanding of what it means to be part of the body of Christ.

People now join churches with a sense of entitlement rather than a servant mentality expecting to be served, fed and honoured.

If Ambode is not careful with his Ninja Turtle head, his Jezebelian wretch of a wife will surely bring about his downfall! Oloshii olori roboto bi idi Iya uche.

really?

Unbelievable

I don't believe a thing I just read

The truth can never be hidden, if there was more to his sack.

No smoke without fire.

CANT disappoints

He's a pastor working for Lagos state government under ministry of home affairs headed by a Muslim named lookman seriki. He won't get a fair deal. If Ambode's wife ask him to remove an imam, can he remove him with a 24 hour altimatum to vacate the mosque like that in Lagos state ?

fools

It is well

See cowardice in display even in church and among the so called fearless children of God!



Abeg, CAN spokesman, answer this question boldly and confidently..........


Was Taiwo given enough number of days as notice before his ejection

When will we learn that Politics n Religion are like Oil and Water!!!! ..... They can never MIX!!!!


Afonjas can never fail to Dissapoint !!!!! ..... They can never Comprehend either!!!!!

Is hard for me to even believe any news these days.
But what does our politicians have to do with Church leadership?
So a leader in the Church is also on a state government pay role abi.
Hmmm
I smell smoke fish in that Church? EUPHORIA road side Church.

Concerning this case, let the truth be told. I started doubting the dismissed chaplain's story when he was praising the former first lady.

Gooooood

Kai.
In the whole article nothing was pointed at as the offense of the sacked guy. They just said he's an employee of the government by the rules made and so sackable at the discretion of the govt.

No wonder they don't take CAN seriously.
It's truly better to keep mute and be thought a fool sometimes than open your mouth and remove all doubt.

Idi otos.

If not for the involvement of the Church in politics, this story should not be hard to believe



But, Nigeria is a theatre of comic relief

Christianity should be converted to a political party in Nigeria

They love money more than the scripture and can sell out there very own for peanut.

. The whole christian practices practice in Nigeria is politics

davido101:
Politics in the church

Two dangerous games being played simultaneously by CAN...... politically mixed with religion!

Common Association of Nuisance, CAN is full of hypocrites

After all this stories can you simple tell the public why you sacked him and decided to throw him out of his official residence all within a day notice.

Ew

afonjas are a set of confused people

Okay