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by
Daily Sun
By Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye
Saturday, January 7, 2006
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Bolanle being led away from the church |
A
fresh leadership tussle has erupted in the Celestial
Church of Christ
(CCC), resulting in some members
stripping one of the leaders naked.
The crisis assumed an alarming proportion when an
erstwhile leader
of the church, Shonekon Godwin Bolanle,
allegedly broke into the
altar at the World
Headquarters, Imeko, Ogun State, with heavily
armed men
on Christmas eve. Many people were reported injured
in
the process.
Bolanle, who until 2002 was the registered agent of the
church in
Florida, it was gathered, allegedly stormed
the headquarters to
proclaim himself the pastor.
Wearing the costume of a pastor, he allegedly used the
giant bells meant for calling the members to service to
break the entrance into the altar.
After gaining entrance, he allegedly broke into the
inner altar, and knelt before it with his hands raised
to proclaim himself the pastor of the church - to the
admiration of his followers.
Trouble
Trouble however broke out, when members of the church
who had gathered for the passover and watch night
service pounced on Bolanle and his men.
He was rescued by the Deputy Commissioner of Police of
the Ogun State Command, Eleweran, Mr.Dapo Ayeni. He was
in police custody for some days alongside his followers
before being released on bail.
The pastor of the Celestial Church of Christ, Reverend
Emmanuel Oshoffa, Saturday Sun heard, was highly
embarrassed by Bolanle’s behaviour.
Origin of problem
Speaking on behalf of Oshoffa, the secretary of the
Board of Trustees of the Church, Elder Oluremi Olushoga
Ogunlesi, said Bolanle fell out with the church when his
request to be made the Head of Diocese of the Church in
America failed.
“Shonekan came to a church meeting in 1991. The meeting
was held in Pastor Bada’s house. He told us that he was
based in Florida but wanted the church’s approval to
establish a parish there. Pastor Bada was highly
impressed with him because a lot of people don’t bother
seeking permission from the church before forming
branches. We gave him all the support he needed. We also
gave him the church’s constitution for registration in
USA. Though, I must say, that we never gave him
financial support.
“We did not hear from him until 1998, when he came back
asking for more documents for registration. He has a
house in Florida that his wife uses for day care, which
he turns to a church on Sunday. We gave him more
sensitive documents believing that he wanted to use it
for registration. Trouble started when the U.S.A
government gave him a final form to sign. The pastor of
the church was required to sign. Shonekan asked us to
send him a letter which world gave him authority to sign
on behalf of the pastor. We gave him the letter in good
faith and he signed in Florida.
To
our chagrin, he started proclaiming himself pastor. Can
you imagine that? Just because he signed a document on
behalf of the church. He was not even a member of the
Board of Trustees. When we got tired of his antics, we
excommunicated him in 2004. Unknown to us, he was even
signing sensitive documents. That, to us to forgery”.
He
collected money from people
The Personal Assistant to Oshoffa, Elder Tosho Oschoffa
claimed Shonekan invaded Mercyland in Imeko, just to
prove that he was the pastor of the church.
“Shonekan collected several thousands of naira from
people promising to take them to America, last year.
When he could not take them, they grew restless. He
gathered some of the people he collected money from and
they came to our headquarters with arms. Among the
people he brought were Muslims, members of the Oodua
peoples congress (OPC), etc. We had earlier
disassociated ourselves from the trip by placing adverts
in the newspapers”.
Oshoffa further said that Bolanle was present during the
ordination of the present pastor of the church. “We have
only one pastor. Emmanuel Oshoffa was proclaimed pastor
on December 25, 2002 and ordained on February 23, 2003
in Imeko. Bolanle was part of the people that prayed
during the Oshoffa’s spiritual ordination”.
When Saturday Sun called Bolanle on his cell phone, he
rained insults on this reporter.
He said: “You must be a very daft reporter. I am the
only recognized pastor of the Celestial Church of Christ
World Wide. Where were you when I called a press
conference on the March 2, 2005 to proclaim myself
pastor”.
When asked who ordinated him pastor, Bolanle cut the
line. When Saturday Sun called back, a female voice said
that he was not available.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, Mr.
Femi Awoyele, confirmed the incident.
“We had intelligence report that some people were going
to disturb the peace of Mercyland. When Bolanle invaded
the place with the people he had …(promised) to take to
America, we had to take him out of there. We are still
investigating and those found wanting would be charged
to court for assault and willful damage”.
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