Hundreds of worshipers who stormed Ajegunle Baptist Church, Agbowo
Ibadan on Sunday to usher in a new month and pray for divine protection
met a locked gate to the premises of their Church engendered by the
crisis that has been rocking the church in the last two years.
A large number of the faithful who had arrived the Church for the
first service in the month, could not gain access to the church as the
premises was under lock and key.Security operatives, as well as police
detectives, kept surveillance in order to avert any breach of Peace.
Security operatives, as well as police detectives, were present to prevent any breach of peace.
Worshippers who had arrived the church premises in their large
numbers as early as 7.30 could only stand before the main gate of the
church to sing songs of praise when it was dawned on them that no
service would hold inside the church auditorium.
One of the Elders who spoke with our Correspondent on condition of
anonymity said ‘there is an issue between the Concerned Elders of the
Church and the Assembly Pastor,Rev.E.O.Oyekan who is expected to have
left the church over serious allegations.
The Baptist convention had earlier after investigation of allegation
of misappropriation of fund against the pastor of the church directed
that the pastor should henceforth seize to handle any finance or fund
belonging to the church
He presented a pamphlet entitled, “financial misapplication without
embezzlement’” a case study of Ajegunle Baptist Church, Agbowo Ibadan
crisis’”, which he disclosed; had been sent to the ,Baptist convention,
the highest ruling body of the church.
The brochure was written by four concerned members of the Church
namely Mr.G.A.Odekunle, Dn.T.A.Ojo,Mr.AM.Okunade ,Mr.T.T.A.Adewuyi and
copied the President Ibadan Baptist Conference ,the Moderator, Champion
They accused Rev. Oyekan of many wrong doings bordering on
misappropriation of church fund, adding that the only way to resolve the
conflict was for the church pastor to leave. “The Church for manry
years now has lost her position of honour in the Baptist family through
untimely and inappropriate payment of dues to the Association ,
conference and convention”, they allege.
The Concerned members further contended that as any community, where
both the right and wrong would have their followership,”Rev.E.A.Oyekan’s
action had caused serious disunity among Ajegunle Baptist Church
members.
In his defence, Rev.Oyekan referred any interested person to Baptist
Convention for any clarification. His position was contained in his
letters addressed to the President of the Convention.
It was learnt that the Men’s Missionary Union of the Church which has
also joined the protest against the church pastor, insisted that the
only way out of the crisis was for the pastor to quit.
Elders of the Church, it was learnt, were taking steps to resolve the
crisis as the conflict has become a shame to the Baptist family in the
area.