Sunday Oguntola writes on the hullabaloo surrounding the death of Lagos-based preacher, Prophet Ireti Ajanaku, as well as the eccentric lifestyles of the flamboyant cleric
There is Prophet Elijah Ireti Ajanaku, the General Overseer of Christ Victory Chapel International, who reportedly died on August 17th in his Gbongan hometown in Osun State?
Investigations revealed that the flamboyant preacher is in the Military Morgue, Yaba, Lagos. His remains were moved to the facility after several prayers and vigils for him to regain consciousness failed. Members and elders of the church have been engaging in serious spiritual exercises for the preacher to come back to life since he was pronounced dead.
A competent source told our correspondent on Friday that “the man is dead, no doubt.” The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the church, Mr. Oluwatosin Faleye, also confirmed the cleric’s death to our correspondent last Friday. He said the church took time to announce his death because it was expecting God to perform a miracle. Faleye, however, said the deceased’s family is meeting on burial arrangements and will soon make announcements to that effect.
But to elders and members of his church, he is in a trance preparing for a much-expected ‘resurrection’. This is a position they have taken since the fair-skinned cleric was pronounced dead. To many of them, it is as inconceivable as unbelievable that the powerful preacher who they fondly refer to as ‘daddy’ will just drop dead like that.
About two years ago, members recall the same death verdict was pronounced on the preacher. He allegedly regained consciousness few days later much to the relief of everyone. The development did not only reinforce confidence in him but also fired up their affection for their spiritual head.
A member, who simply identified himself as Stephen, said: “If you know this man, you will never believe he is dead. This is the same man who ‘died’ and came back to life. Nobody who was in this church then will ever believe the rumour that he is dead. If he came around then, he will come around again.”
Sunday service without Ajanaku
This optimism was evident at the church’s service last Sunday. The service held with members apparently defiant to the noise surrounding their spiritual head’s death. The worship session was as lively as before. The choir dished out melodious songs, which the congregation received with much gaiety.
But the atmosphere became tense when Ajanaku’s wife, Joy, mounted the pulpit to preach. Members, who had steeled their emotions, wondered what ‘mummy’ as she is called will have to say to the raging controversy over her husband’s death. Many of them who had attempted to visit the 15, Folarin Williams Close, Ikola Odunsi, residence of their leader had been turned back with the assurance that all was well.
Only very few trusted elders and members were granted access to the Oasis-like apartment. So, for them, whatever ‘mummy’ said would be their closest opportunity to hear from the horse’s mouth. Joy, who has two kids for Ajanaku, did not disappoint them. She put up a radiant look, telling the congregation ‘daddy’ sent them his greetings.
The church erupted with joy. Members clapped and the singers raised their performance to a crescendo. Once pacified, Joy settled down to preach her sermon. She chose to preach without a theme or topic. First, she talked about the importance of accepting the will of God. This, she said, is because death can come at any time.
Then, she launched into a really foul mood. Many, she claimed, were fond of mocking God’s servants. This attitude, according to her, must stop to avert divine wrath. Mrs. Ajanaku argued that God’s servants are not immune from challenges of life but must never be mocked during their trying moments. Her comments further confirmed to members that their revered leader might still be alive.
Attempts by our correspondent to speak with church members on the issue were stoutly rebuffed. They maintained a troubling silence, becoming hostile upon further enquiries. But a few of them were as confused as the public. They spoke in whispers, maintaining their leader was not dead but probably sick.
Life on the sick bed
That the prophet is sick is not hard for his members to believe. Eight weeks before his rumoured death, Ajanaku’s absence from the church became noticeable. He was reportedly indisposed, members gathered. Investigations revealed that the flamboyant preacher went down under severe skin pigmentation allegedly caused by excessive bleaching.
His condition was so bad that he missed the church’s anniversary celebrated on July 16. That he could miss such a landmark occasion confirmed to them that all was not definitely well. It was also gathered all attempts to secure medical treatment for the ailment failed. Unconfirmed reports said he was taken to his hometown for traditional treatment before he reportedly died.
While on the sick bed, members were told Ajanaku travelled abroad for ministrations. Only few elders knew he was under the weather. Despite their suspicions, they were left with no choice than to believe. Ajanaku, a close aide said, was in serious pains with his skin peeling. There were also blood stains all over his body, the aide added. It was learnt that excessive use of bleaching creams complicated the skin condition.
Tortuous walk to priesthood
All of these were kept under wraps, far away from the prying eyes of neighbours and members. Ajanaku, investigations revealed, was a bus conductor and vulcaniser until his sudden rise to wealth and prominence less than a decade ago. Those who knew him in Ikosi-Odunsi in Agbado /Oke-Ode Local Council Development Authority (LCDA) recalled he was a conductor to a popular commercial driver in the neighbourhood.
He had left his hometown where he was labeled mysterious by his peers. It was gathered the flamboyant preacher was dreaded in Gbongan back then because he was believed to have supernatural powers. A born Muslim, he converted to Christianity as soon as he came to Lagos. When he relocated to Lagos, Ajanaku engaged in several menial jobs. He also learnt auto mechanic and vulcanising.
He became a bus conductor to raise enough capital to commence work as an artisan. “I remember he was a vulcaniser at a bus stop close here in those days,” Mr. Dare Ogunbayo, a resident confided. “But suddenly, he closed down the shop and took off. We never saw him again until he emerged about seven years ago as a church owner,” he added.
Investigations revealed that Ajanaku’s attempt to attend Bible school never succeeded. This was largely because he never had any formal education. He was reportedly turned back at the World of Faith Bible Institute (WOBFI) where he sought admission. Sources close to him said he decided to plunge headlong into ministry despite his educational disadvantages.
“He just felt he could still make it, after all he was a prophet and people will always consult him to hear from God,” a source close to him said. This educational deficiency remained a big torn in the flesh of Ajanaku. He operated more or less like an emperor, leading the church with a mixture of love and fear.
Members had to kneel to talk to him. This, it was learnt, was because he convinced them he is a servant in direct contact with God. Members who spoke with our correspondent balked at the idea that he could be wrong or falter. “My daddy cannot do any of such things. He is a man of God,” a worker with the Sound Engineering Unit stated.
Even resident related with him with strict caution. They said he remained an enigma who could blow from hot to cold. “Sometimes he could be nice and other times he would just snub everyone,” a landlord that sought anonymity stated.
Ajanaku also used to go about in a convoy of exotic vehicles. Residents said many of them used to take cover whenever his convoy emerged, to avert being knocked down. His love for exotic cars was never in doubt. In an interview with a soft sell magazines, he said: “A lot of people who know me believe I don’t have a life and I am mysterious. That is why I decided I would also have a hobby which is my love for exotic cars.
“I did that purposely so that everyone will be convinced I also have good taste like every other person. The kind of nature I have doesn’t value anything. So my love for cars is intentional. It is not a crime to drive exotic cars.”
Unfinished battles with Tope Alabi
But it was his celebrated relationship with award-winning gospel singer, Tope Alabi, that bought Ajanaku to the limelight. Alabi practically boot-licked the preacher, unabashedly rolling before him in several public outings as her spiritual father. She even composed many popular songs in his honour, describing God as the “God of Ajanaku”. She loved to call him “my angel”.
Alabi, it was learnt, was introduced to the preacher by her mother during her trying periods. Series of prayers from the prophet changed Alabi’s fortunes, launching her into international limelight and accolades. She became the worship leader, drawing several fans to the Ipaja Lagos church.
With Alabi’s songs and Ajanaku’s powerful prophetic ministrations, the church became a Mecca of a sort in the neighbourhood every week. The duo, it was learnt, smiled to the banks. All these ended sometimes early this year when the talented singer suddenly stopped attending the church. The 13-year-old relationship had turned sour.
Ajanaku told the church: “For 12 solid years, I fathered Tope Alabi spiritually and she sang about me and my God not because I ever asked her to do so. She was Toyin when I met her, I rechristened her Tope because that was the name my God ordained for her.
“Her travails disappeared because my God is true and faithful. She became almost an instant star flying local and international for shows. And I blessed God for who He is. So, Tope wasn’t advertising me, she was dazzled by the God of Ajanaku that raised her from travails to many triumphs.”
Investigations revealed the reluctance of Alabi to attend every Sunday service in preference for commercial shows and outings was behind their parting ways. Ajanaku confirmed this much: “Tope Alabi feared the God I serve and she had great respect for Him, but her problem is that she doesn’t listen to sermons that should keep the power working for her continually. As much as Tope Alabi praises the God of Elijah Iretiola Ajanaku, it has never positively affected my ministry.
“Hard as it may sound to you, Tope has never thought of ever appreciating me with her substance. Let people ask if she’d ever thought ‘let me give my pastor N100, 000 to buy foodstuffs. Is it good for someone of Tope’s pedigree to leave a church and we cannot tell that this is the drum, guitar or saxophone she bought for the ministry?
“You plan your shows and have the right to alter it at will, why do you include Sundays? Find a week or two in a month to attend the church service as long as you’re in Nigeria. I told her it was an order as long as she remained my daughter, but if she dares me, never will I ever give her such counsel or invite her for any function in my ministry.”
When Alabi attended the 2012 cross-over service, she refused to sit in the front row like she always did. When Ajanaku requested that artistes come forward for prayers, Alabi stayed put, claiming she was tired. This, it was learnt, infuriated Ajanaku. The livid prophet anointed 18-year-old Ifemide, a new comer in the church to take over Alabi’s position, a development that reportedly irked the singer.
The prophet explained his action: “She (Ifemide) had never sung before me. I didn’t even know she could sing. I just spotted her and dragged her to the pulpit and said that someone is losing her divine place today and another person is taking the place. I told the church that by the power of God, I replace someone with this girl.”
Ever since then, the bubble has burst between the duo. Ajanaku went on to allege that the celebrated singer was fighting him because he refused her sexual advances. Alabi has refrained from making comments on the allegations since then. When our correspondent sought to speak with her, she was said to be away in Canada on a musical tour. Mails to her Facebook account and official emails were unanswered.
