Ijero-Ekiti, one of the major towns in Ekiti State, came alive on June 27, 2017 as guests from far and wide witnessed the enthronement of the new Bishop of Diocese of Ekiti West, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Right Reverend Rufus Victor Ajileye Adepoju at the Cathedral Church of Christ in the town. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports.
History was made on Tuesday, 27th June, 2017 when the Diocese of Ekiti West of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) witnessed a change of baton of leadership for the first time in many years.
A new Diocesan Bishop, the Right Reverend Rufus Victor Ajileye Adepoju, was enthroned to the exalted seat after about 32 years of priesthood and 20 years as a Venerable in the Anglican Communion.
He replaced the first Diocesan Bishop, the Right Reverend Samuel Oludare Oke, who retired from office as the occupant of the seat after attaining the retirement age of 70 years. Before becoming bishop, Adepoju, 54, was the most senior venerable in Ekiti Diocese.
The new bishop, until his election, was the Archdeacon in charge of Emure Archdeaconry under Ekiti Diocese. He had also served as Archdeacon in Aisegba and Ikole Archdeaconries all in Ekiti Diocese.
Adepoju, an indigene of Iropora-Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State, was elected Bishop on February 20 in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, which ironically, is the hometown of his predecessor (Oke) at the Standing Committee Meeting of the Church
of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) presided over by the Archbishop Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria, the Most Reverend Nicholas D. Okoh.
He was consecrated alongside three other bishops-elect at the Cathedral Church of Transfiguration of Our Lord (CATOL) in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on May 7 setting the stage for enthronement at the diocese he would superintend over.
The Anglican Communion has three dioceses in Ekiti State; Ekiti Diocese has its seat in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti Oke Diocese has its seat in Usi-Ekiti while Ekiti West Diocese has its seat in Ijero-Ekiti.
All roads led to Ijero-Ekiti, the seat of the Diocese of Ekiti West where the cream of the society including the traditional institution, senior government officials and top clergymen gathered to welcome Adepoju into office as the bishop.
The town was agog as gaily dressed guests trooped in from all parts of the country to be part of the occasion. The vicinity of the church was decorated with giant banners bearing the portraits of the new bishop and his wife, Mrs. Christiana Tolulope Adepoju, now fondly referred to as “Mama Ekiti West.”
Automobiles of various shapes and colours found space in the precincts of the cathedral while only those of the visiting bishops and other Very Important Personalities (VIPs) were allowed into the inner compound.
Members of the Boys Brigade stood guard at the church gate and never allowed a dull moment with their trumpeting and drumming. Itinerant drummers, comedians and mascots added colour by singing praises of guests.
For a service that was supposed to start at 11.00 am, the inner belly of the church was already full to capacity about one hour earlier. Those who came late did not have programme booklet.
The hometown of the new bishop, Iropora, was virtually empty as indigenes led by their monarch, the Oniropora, Oba Joel Ajayi Olonibua, flocked to Ijero to witness the elevation of an illustrious son, himself a prince from the royal family, who happens to be the first bishop from any denomination to emerge from the community.
There was a deafening ovation when the new bishop who had been welcoming guests in his purple robe later emerged in his cope vestment with full compliments of the cone-shaped mitre cap ready for the administration of the oath of office and the receipt of the sceptre of office.
Many people in the congregation strained their necks and stood on the pews to catch a glimpse of the bishop in his new regalia which conferred the rights and privileges of the new office.
Installing the bishop on behalf of Primate Okoh was the man wearing three caps of the Archbishop of Ondo Province, Bishop of Diocese of Ondo and the Dean of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Reverend George Latunji Lasebikan.
He was assisted in performing the task by the Chancellor of Ekiti West Diocese and a Judge of the High Court of Ekiti State, Justice Monisola Oluwatoyin Abodunde.
Adepoju received the Diocesan Pastoral Staff at the entrance of the sacrarium. His sermon after enthronement was entitled: “God of our Fathers”, taken from Psalm 48:14.
Dignitaries at the enthronement service included former Governor Adeniyi Adebayo represented by Hon. Idowu Adeniyi, former Governor Kayode Fayemi represented by former Head of Service, Mr. Bunmi Famosaya; former Secretary to the State Government, Chief Afolabi Ojuawo and the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Ayodeji Simon Daramola.
Traditional rulers who graced the occasion are the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe; the Owa Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole; the Elekole of Ikole-Ekiti and Paramount Ruler of Egbeoba land, Oba Adewumi Ajibade Fasiku; the Elemure of Emure-Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Adebowale Adebayo; the Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, Oba John
Ademola Ajakaye; the Olowa of Odo Owa-Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Oyedeji; the Alayetoro of Ayetoro-Ekiti, Oba Samuel Olu Ajayi and the Owa of Odo Ayedun-Ekiti, Oba Solomon Ajibade Ajigbotoluwa.
Other monarchs are the Obadu of Ilemeso-Ekiti, Oba David Adegboyega Oyewumi; the Oluroye of Iroko-Ekiti, Oba Sunday Ekundayo; the Alararomi of Araromi-Ekiti, Oba Adeoye, the Onilukuno of Ilukuno-Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Jegede; the Olosin of Osin-Ekiti, Oba Philip Oyediran and the Onise of Odo Oro-Ekiti, Oba Gbadebo Ogunsakin.
Senior Anglican clergymen present at the enthronment included Bishop of Lagos and Dean Emeritus, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most. Rev. Dr. Ephraim Ademowo; Bishop of Ilaje, the Rt. Rev. Olugbemi; Bishop of Irele/Ese Odo, the Rt. Rev. Akinbuluma; Bishop of Idoani, the Rt. Rev. Dahunsi; Bishop of Mbamali, the Rt. Rev. Okeke, Bishop of Osun North, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Humphrey Olumakaiye, Bishop of Akure, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Simon Borokini; Bishop of Owo, the Rt. Rev. Dr. J.A. Oladunjoye and Bishop of Oyo Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Williams Aladekugbe.
Others are Bishop of Etsako, the Rt. Rev. J.O.B. Bada; Bishop of Osun North, Rt. Rev. A.T. Olaoye; Bishop of Omu Aran, the Rt. Rev. P. Adeyemo; Bishop of Ifo, the Rt. Rev. N.O. Ogundipe; Bishop of Ilesa South West, the Rt. Rev. S.O. Egbebunmi; Bishop of Ijebu South West, the Rt. Rev. Dr. B.F.R. Ogunbanwo; Bishop of Ijebu, the Rt. Rev. E. Awosoga; Bishop of Ekiti, the Rt. Rev. Christopher Omotunde; Bishop of Offa, the Rt. Rev. Tunde Popoola; Bishop of Akoko, the Rt. Rev. Gabriel Akinbiyi; the Bishop of Ogbomoso, the Rt. Rev. J.B. Olayinka,
Bishop of Ife, the Rt. Rev. Bunmi Akinlade; Bishop of Yewa, the Rt. Rev. Michael Oluwaronbi; Bishop of North East, the Rt. Rev. J.A.F. Olusola; Bishop on the Coast, the Rt. Rev. Ebun Ogunele; Bishop of Ekiti Oke, the Rt. Rev. Isaac Olubowale and Vice Chancellor of Ajayi
Crowther University, Oyo, the Rt. Rev. Prof. Dapo Asaju.
Some retired bishops present are the Rt. Rev. Michael Ipinmoye (Akure), the Rt. Rev. Oyelade (Kwara), the Rt. Rev. J.O.K.Olowokure, the Rt. Rev. G. Oloniyo (Ife) and the Methodist Bishop of Ifaki Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Sunday Aluko.
Reminiscing on his tortuous journey to the bishop’s throne, Adepoju revealed that he lost his father, the late Prince Matthew Ojo Adepoju, nine days after he was admitted into Immanuel College of Theology, Ibadan where the journey into priesthood began.
He explained that his late father who was happy about the admission had promised to sponsor his theological education only to be taken away by the icy hands of death as the lot fell on his mother, Madam Elizabeth Idowu Adepoju to shoulder the responsibilities of caring for
him and his siblings.
Adepoju said: “I lost my father in the year 1985 and three times before I was admitted into Immanuel College of Theology, he promised to be there for me but nine days after I was admitted, he died.
“It was only this woman (mother) that the lot to take care of me fell upon, my mother who is seated right there, Mama Elizabeth Idowu Adepoju.”
He paid glowing tributes to the former Anglican Primate, the late Most Reverend Joseph Abiodun Adetiloye, whose hometown (Odo Owa-Ekiti) is under the diocese whom he described as a “nemesis to the Ogbonis” in his lifetime. He also paid tributes to his immediate predecessor, Bishop Oke.
Speaking on his action plan, Adepoju promised to work hard and bring back Anglicans who had left the fold for other churches saying “they are only on sabbatical where they went.”
He said: “We are not going to compromise on the vision and mission of the Diocese of Ekiti West, our slogan has now changed to “With God, All Things Are Possible” and the focus will now be on massive and vigorous evangelism.
“From July 2, together with my priests, we shall embark on open air crusade, the type we did in Ilukuno some years back where they attacked me as a reverend but I am going there now as a bishop.
“Becoming bishop, it was a surprise, it was a great grace for my wife and I to be here. We have many priests who are far better than me. Please, don’t mark my grammar because I may not speak the best grammar, just accept me the way I am as long as I preach the gospel.
Speaking on the state of the nation, the bishop said the political problems afflicting Nigeria are not beyond divine solution urging the nation’s leaders to speak less grammar and be sincere in leadership.
Adepoju said: “In this country, we need sincerity in leadership because we speak too much grammar in Nigeria. We have many programmes and policies capable of changing this country but we have failed.
“Let all of us be sincere in tackling our problems in Nigeria and there will be a way out. If all Nigerians can trust God with our present predicament and problems, there will be solution.”
Adepoju was born on May 10, 1963; he holds Diploma in Religious Studies from Immanuel College of Theology (1988); a B.A. (Hons) Religious Studies from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife (1993); MSc Sociology with a bias for Criminology from the Ekiti State University (2003); M.A. in Religious Ethics from Crowther Graduate Theological Seminary, Abeokuta (2016) where he is undergoing a Ph.D programme in the same discipline.
The new bishop was the Ekiti Area Chairman of the Bible Society of Nigeria from 2007-2014 and was also a National Board member of the body to date.
He had served as Bishop Chaplain to the former Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, the late Rt. Rev. Clement Agboola Akinbola for several years before he was posted to many parishes as vicar until he became an Archdeacon (Venerable) in 1997.
Adepoju got married to his wife, Tolulope on 22nd October, 1994 and the marriage is blessed with three children-Jesutofunmi, Iretomiwa and Jesutomisin.
