…allege Anglican Priest as light-fingered, troublesome

‘His huge, frightening female dog also desecrating church premises’

Accused cleric mum ,unreachable

From Precious Owolabi, Ado-Ekiti

Chaos and outrage erupted on Sunday in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, as members of the Anglican Diocese of Ekiti, All Saints’ Church, Anointed Land, refused to join the usual Sunday worship service in protest against their priest, Venerable Oke Olanrewaju.

The aggrieved church members assembled on the church premises but refused to commence the service, demanding that the Bishop of the Diocese, the Right Reverend Andrew Olusola Ajayi, remove the priest, whom they alleged of unwholesome conduct.

The protesting members alleged that the vicar was involved in mismanagement of church resources, ungodly behaviour, high-handedness, and recklessness.

According to them, the priest has not contributed positively to the church, either physically or spiritually; hence, they insisted he should be transferred for peace to reign.

They alleged that members had tolerated the excesses of the priest, who serves as both the vicar and archdeacon of Opopogboro, until he recently attempted to forcefully remove the church treasurer, allegedly to gain access to church funds.

They further claimed that he once brought a huge, frightening female dog, which defecated in the sacred baptismal font, thereby desecrating it.

They appealed to the Bishop to transfer the priest and appoint another spiritual leader who would promote unity, peace, and spiritual growth.

The Secretary of the Parish Council Committee (PCC), Mr Adeboyega Falowo, stated that a formal request for the vicar’s transfer had been submitted to the Lord Bishop of the Diocese, the Right Reverend Andrew Olusola Ajayi. He added that a petition supporting the demand had been signed by numerous church members.

Falowo said: “The dispute stemmed from a controversial virtual election for the position of People’s Warden, which the vicar allegedly declared inconclusive.

Members accused him of interfering in the process, preventing their preferred candidate from assuming the office, and later removing the individual’s name from the church bulletin.

Tensions escalated further when the vicar was accused of assaulting Comrade Mrs Omoyeni Oyewole, the current People’s Warden.

He attempted to dismiss her from the role before physically attacking her, prompting widespread outrage.

“The congregation could not bear it anymore. He removed her name, banished her, and then assaulted her. This act led to a major uproar in the church,” Falowo added.

The crisis has deepened existing divisions within the church, with accusations of misconduct, environmental concerns, and financial opacity surfacing.

Dr Mobolaji Williams Afolabi, a member of the PCC, said a series of events had contributed to the unrest.

“He disrupted proceedings by bringing a dog into the premises. Despite warnings from church leaders regarding health and hygiene concerns, the animal was left unattended to and reportedly defecated in sacred areas, sparking discontent and desecrating the baptismal font.

“Additionally, the same individual was linked to poultry farming activities that led to environmental pollution and a neighbourhood lawsuit. While church mediation resolved the matter outside of court, tensions remained high.

“Further unrest arose when the individual in question attempted to block a candidate from contesting for the People’s Warden position, citing an incorrect interpretation of the African Diocese Constitution. The election was declared inconclusive, fuelling suspicions of manipulation.

“Last Sunday, the omission of the disputed warden’s name from the church bulletin further inflamed tensions, with congregants viewing it as a deliberate act of exclusion.

“In response to the crisis, the bishop dissolved the PCC, leaving the church without a governing body. Attempts at mediation have so far been unsuccessful. A senior priest was deployed to lead Sunday service, but members rejected his presence, forcing the service to be held outside the church hall.”

Mrs Familoni, speaking on behalf of discontented members, emphasised the growing dissatisfaction with the vicar’s leadership.

“It appears as if he wants to be the sole administrator, controlling everything, including finances, without allowing others insight into church matters,” she stated.

“Even spiritually, he has brought the church down, and we are not happy about it.”

Church members are now demanding the vicar’s removal, insisting on a leader who is “spiritually sound and a true child of God.”

They argued that the church has suffered a decline under his leadership and seek someone capable of restoring both its spiritual and administrative integrity.

As of now, church authorities have yet to issue an official response to the congregation’s demands. The situation remains tense, with no clear resolution in sight.

Efforts to reach Venerable Oke Olanrewaju for his response were unsuccessful, as he neither answered calls nor replied to messages.