Fresh facts have emerged on why the Chaplain of the Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, Lagos State, Pastor Femi Taiwo was fired. Insiders told us that the man of God breached church protocols and had series of disciplinary problems with the church.
Lagos State Governor’s wife, Her Excellency, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode
Our sources disclosed to us that the sacked pastor’s problems did not start from the event of May 14, 2017. We were told that Pastor Femi Taiwo disregarded the rules of the church and went to have a meeting with Governor Ambode’s wife, Her Excellency, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode. This happened in February, 2017 and he did not inform the church’s Governing Council.
We gathered that at the meeting he lied to the governor’s wife that he was sent by the church’s Council. That is not all, he was said to have lectured the First Lady on why he should be the “alpha and omega” on anything spiritual concerning the governor and his family.
Besides, he was said to have quoted the church’s constitution to convince the governor’s wife to always respect his office and powers. He equally told the governor’s wife that the church inside the State House should be reporting to him. He threatened the governor’s wife that he would withdraw some of the staff if his demands were not met.
The governor’s wife was said to have been shocked by the pastor’s threat and she complained to the church’s Governing Council. The Council was also dazed that Pastor Taiwo could lie and misrepresent himself to the governor’s wife and immediately queried the clergyman demanding explanation. The query was signed by Gbenga Solomon, a Reverend Canon and the Governing Council Chairman.
“It came to the notice of the Governing Council of Chapel of Christ the Light that you requested and held a meeting with Her Excellency on 27th February, 2017, claiming that the Governing Council mandated you to do so. Please, note that your action was at your behest and not the Governing Council. We learnt that you went with a copy of the constitution, explaining the content to her.”
“Kindly recall that an emergency meeting was summoned on Wednesday, 1st March 2017, where you claimed that you never mentioned to Her Excellency that the Governing Council mandated you. In order not to put the Governing Council in disrepute, respond in writing your position on same.”
Following the Council’s query to him, Pastor Taiwo wrote a letter of apology, dated March 10, and addressed to Mrs. Ambode stating that the purpose of his visit was not to undermine the First Lady or her office.
“I write to tender a sincere apology to you on the matter surrounding our visit to Your Excellency recently,” the chaplain wrote. “In honesty, I have high regard for you and see you as mother to all. Your effort in building the Chapel and the State in general is highly appreciated and we pray God to continue to strengthen you the more. I am very sorry for any embarrassment our visit might have caused you and I plead you find a place in your heart to forgive.”
Those in the know squealed to us that despite the fact that Pastor Taiwo apologized to the governor’s wife about the February 14 incident, he continued to be disrespectful to her. That is not all, we gathered that the pastor is also angry with Governor Ambode and his wife because another person was made a Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious Matters and he feels strongly that as the chaplain, it was his duty to play such role and to act as the spiritual father to the First Family.
We were told that that the Governing Council was also not happy with the pastor for converting the church’s bus to his personal use.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde revealed that: “We don’t want to engage anyone on this matter. The former chaplain was queried a number of times in the past for conduct unbecoming of his office. The culmination of various indiscretions led to the Governing Council of the church issuing yet another query that led to his being relieved of his post. This has got nothing to do with the First Lady. The chaplain is looking for an excuse to cover his insouciance. It’s nothing but cheap blackmail.”