the Light, Alausa, Lagos state was reportedly
removed on the orders of Governor Ambode
- There have been conflicting reports as to the
reason for his removal from office
- It has been revealed that the former chaplain
did have some kind of quarrel with the first
lady of Lagos state
Taiwo received his sack letter without a query or
official reason after the governor directed the
Governing Council of the chapel to remove him.
While it is still not clear yet why he was removed,
media reports suggest that Mr Taiwo’s removal
came after his actions during an anointing service on
May 14 angered the Lagos state governor’s wife,
Bolanle Ambode, who was in attendance.
Pastor Femi Taiwo has reportedly received offers for
housing following the incident
The reports said Mrs Ambode waited endlessly as
she joined a queue to be anointed without any
preference accorded her; and that she left the church
in anger after been anointed.
Femi Taiwo, was ordered out of his official quarters
within 24 hours of receiving the letter on May 15.
However, Premium Times reports that there are
more untold reasons for his removal.
According to a source: "The point is that he (Mr.
Taiwo) disregarded rules to go and meet the First
Lady without authorisation, out of selfish interest."
In February 2017, Mr Taiwo reportedly visited Mrs
Ambode without the knowledge of the church’s
Governing Council; but he allegedly lied to the
governor’s wife that he was sent by the Council.
At the meeting: “He told the First Lady that the small
church inside the State House should be reporting to
him. And that he would withdraw some of the staff if
his demands were not granted, almost threatening
the First Lady,” one official said.
Mrs Ambode contacted the church’s Governing
Council to complain and according to the source:
“The council was shocked that Mr Taiwo, a
supposed man of God, could lie and misrepresent
himself to the First Lady, and immediately queried the
clergyman, demanding explanation.”
A query signed by Gbenga Solomon, a Reverend
Canon and the Governing Council Chairman said:
“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 Governing Council mandated you. In
order not to put the Governing Council in disrepute,
respond in writing your position on same.”
In response on March 10, the offending chaplain
wrote a letter of apology addressed to Mrs. Ambode
stating that the purpose of his visit was not to
undermine the First Lady or her office.
He said: “I write to tender a sincere apology to you
on the matter surrounding our visit to Your Excellency
recently.
“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.”
However he reportedly remained hostile to the first
lady which culminated in his removal
Another official said: “ He remained perpectually
angry because another person was made a Special
Adviser to the Governor on Religious Matters and
assumed wrongly that as the chaplain, it was his duty
to play such roles and to act as the spiritual father to
the First Family.”
“He was consistently pestering the First Lady with a
litany of requests, and was repeatedly advised by the
Governing Council. But he does not appear to have
any respect for constituted authorities as advised by
the Bible.”
Steve Ayorinde, the Commissioner for Information
and Strategy, declined to comment on the pastor’s
removal, saying: “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.”
Meanwhile, Taiwo, has refused to comment on the
matter. He said:Taiwo, has refused to comment on the matter. He said: “One thing I can say is that I have tried as a pastor to live above board. It will not
be right engaging the church or the government on
the pages of a newspaper."
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