By Sunmola Olowookere

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Disbelief and shock were still evident on the faces of the mourners and his church members as the body of Prophet Arole (not real name) was lowered into the grave in a solemn service.

It was an emotionally charged moment as the youths howled and the women sobbed uncontrollably while some of them held the wife of the deceased who was almost mad with grief firmly as she paid the last respect to her husband.

Her foot slipped and she struggled to find her footing.

But for the women holding her firmly, she might have slipped into the grave where her husband had been lowered.

Death came calling on Prophet Arole at a very inappropriate time. He was in his fifties and full of life and promise. His ministry was booming. Everything was moving on smoothly and boom! The grim reaper decided to show his face.

It was during a Sunday service. The service was moving on smoothly as it started around 10 a.m. It was two hours into the programme and the prophet began to feel weak.

It showed in his stance and his voice as he prayed for the congregation. He must have felt like sitting down but he persevered and tried to rebuke the source of the sudden weakness that came over him.

He leaned against the pulpit for support and those on the altar with him were studying him. They did not want to be too forward as they felt that maybe he was in the spirit.

Before their very eyes, he slipped to the floor and he began to gasp and heave. There was commotion as they rushed to carry him. The pulpit too fell as he thudded to the floor and the glasses broke into pieces. The members that had been observing closely as he manifested various signs rushed to get water and poured it on him in a bid to revive him.

Although he spurted as the water fall on his body,but there was no visible improvement.

Some of the members urged that he be taken to the hospital but the other clergymen in the church calmed them and told them that it was no new thing as he could be in the spirit.

They assured that he would soon come around. They rubbed his body with some sweet smelling substance that was in a bottle on the altar and tied his girdle (amure) on his head. They carried him inside the altar and laid him there. They believed that he would be healed of his condition where he was laid.

They kept checking on him as they prayed in a room they called the power room. Soon, his gasping began to reduce and still they refused to take him to the hospital.

His wife and children too believed them because the prophet had come under attack some few times and outlived it. They believed that the time too would be no different.

Alas! He passed away while they were engaged in the rigorous spiritual exercise.

It was a terrible time for the church as they howled their pain and shock, when he discovered he had died. Then they rushed him to the hospital where he was confirmed dead.

His family members were summoned and since his parents were still alive, it was decided that he should be buried the next day.

Being an indigene who grew up in Akure metropolis, his burial programme was jam-packed with crowd. Neighbours too came because he built his house beside the church.

His wife was inconsolable as she bemoaned the evil fate that made her a widow at such an early age.