The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Lagos State chapter has backed the decision of the Governing Council of the Chapel of Christ the Light to remove Venerable Femi Taiwo as presiding chaplain of the church.
Alex Bamgbola, the CAN state chairman, told newsmen during a press conference in Lagos that the allegation that Taiwo was sacked because of an incident involving Bolanle Ambode, the state governor’s wife, was “not only untrue but unjust and erroneous.”
The media was awash with the news last week that Taiwo was sacked for allegedly disrespecting Ambode’s wife by failing to accord her due recognition during an anointing service on May 14.
But addressing a press conference at the church’s premises on Tuesday, the CAN leadership in the state said the Governing Council of the church acted within the law to relieve the chaplain of his duties.
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.
“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,” said Mr. Bamgbola.
“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.”
“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.
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