… The root of all evil: N5 million gov’t donation throws Ekiti church into (huge) crisis

by Chi Ibe

(photo-Punch)
(photo-Punch)

A N5 million government donation to a church in Ekiti State has caused crisis between members on how the money was spent.

Last Sunday, some members of St. Paul’s Millennium Anglican Church, Odo Owa Ekiti, Ekiti State closed all entrances to the church and prevented worshippers from going in for service.

According to reports, the conflict started after the Bishop of Ekiti Anglican Diocese, Bishop Oludare Oke demoted the Vicar of the church, Rev. Mike Ogunniyi, because Oke disapproved of the way the reverend dispensed the donated cash by Governor Kayode Fayemi.

Fayemi had instructed that the money was for the continuance of the gospel during the funeral for the late Archbishop Abiodun Adetiloye, who was an indigene of the town on January 25.

Bishop Oke had allegedly instructed that the money should be put in a special fixed account, as an endowment fund in anticipation that the money would yield an interest which would also be useful to the church but his directives were ignored and rather Ogunniyi, in consultation with the leaders of the church, reportedly went on to buy a N3m bus for evangelism, N1m on the renovation of the church and deposited the balance in the church’s account.

The Punch reports:

A source, who claimed to be a member of the church told PUNCH Metro in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, that the news of the demotion of the vicar prompted members of the church to seal the church and prevent worshippers from assembling for last Sunday service.

He said, “The crisis in the church also caused tension in the community. But some community leaders intervened before it could escalate.”

The church has, however, denied that the donation caused a crisis.

A statement by a member of the Church’s council, Mr. George Ogunjeta, said, “There is no crisis in St. Paul’s Millennium Anglican Church. Services have been holding in the church uninterrupted.”

 

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