Friday 1 August 2014

11 Months After, Late Prophet Ireti Ajanaku Buried In Lagos + PHOTOS



After almost a year of controversies that surrounded the death of late Lagos Prophet, Iretiola Elijah Ajanaku of Christ Revival Victory Chapel International, Ayobo, Ipaja, his remains were committed to mother earth. The controversial Lagos Prophet, whose church members and Wife, Joy, claimed was not dead, out of strong faith that he would live forever, made the whole of Ipaja, Ikola, Ayobo and Baruwa stand still on Thursday, 17th of July, 2014 during his burial in the Lagos suburb. City People was at the 10-hour burial rites of the Osun State-born Prophet.
Ajanaku (Page4)
NO CHRISTIAN WAKE FOR HIM
Unlike the regular Christian wake which always takes place at the church or residence of the deceased, Prophet Ajanaku’s burial rites never had such. When City People visited the church between 6pm and 8pm, no Christian wake was in place but the church was fully prepared to have the burial on Thursday 17th of July. As at that time, the Prophet’s corpse was still at Lotad, the Military Morgue in Agege Pen Cinema
LOTAD CO-ORDINATED THE FUNERAL
When it was reported that the late Prophet Iretiola Elijah Ajanaku who died in August 2013 was kept in a Military morgue in Maryland, not many believed. City People can authoritatively tell you that he was kept at the VVIP section of LOTAD (owned by General Ladipo Diya). It costs about 3,000 per day which means that about Nine hundred thousand Naira (900,000) has been spent. The pallbearer were dressed in white lace matched with Royal blue and turquoise Aso-Oke. The casket was sparkling white and specially designed with Gold inscription in his name” Prophet Iretiola Ajanaku.
THE 10-HOUR CHURCH BURIAL RITE
It was a long but interesting burial rites for late Prophet Iretiola Ajanaku. The burial rites started at exactly 8.30am, many church members were fully dressed in sky blue and white shirt with Prophet Ajanaku’s picture at the front while the back had “Prophet Ajanaku Lives On”. 2 long buses and many cars left in convoy to pick his remains from LOTAD FUNERAL while they stopped at each juction to dance. Pastor Joy Ajanaku in the same attire with her sunglasses on, sat in a 2010 Metalic Camry with plate number FST 02C2. Her car followed the Stretch white Daewoo which conveyed the remains of her husband. The pallbearers danced with his corpse till he was laid in state at the church for many hours.
PROPHETS & PASTORS IN ATTENDANCE
It was an array of prophets and pastor at the church. Pastor John Salami, Apostle M.O Ojo, Pastor I.O AJibola, Pastor T.O Adediwura, Rev L.A Olanigbogbo, Pastor J.F Awosusi, Pastor T.A.Akano, Pastor M.O Alade, Pastor Ado Emmanuel, Pastor Atilola to mention few. Pastor I.O Ajibola declared the day open with opening prayer at past 10am. The first Hymn was by Brother Oluwole while Mr James Oyeleke who is an elder of the church read the opening speech. Late Prophet Ajanaku’s biography was read by Sis Mariam Oseni. A few minutes past 12pm, many of the church members reflected on his kind of person. Then at past 1pm, the casket stand which was decorated in White and Chapagne Gold, was opened for viewing to guests.
HIS WIFE, JOY WEPT UNCONTROLABLY
This pretty woman who looked calm initially in was inconsolable as she wept loudly. She couldn’t enter the when the service first started. She later came in dressed in the turquoise and white for the occasion. She was escorted as she sat at the entrance of the Casket stand. Her face was covered with white and black sun glasses. She looked downcast and the only time she moved was when she used her Tablet to read the Bible. She later wept as hot tears rolled down her eyes while she rolled on the floor singing praises to God. This went on for over an hour.
TOP FAMILY MEMBERS ABSENT
When the event kicked off at past 8am on Thursday 17th of July 2014, many were expecting to see the immediate family members of the deceased but to everyone’s surprise, none of them was on ground. Investigations revealed that Prophet Ajanaku had 4 siblings but none was there to bid him Goodbye. A top church member who doesn’t want his name mentioned revealed to this magazine that it has to do with properties of the late prophet. We gathered the sharing formula for properties was not agreed on. Some also said that it was Pastor Joy Ajanaku who didn’t involve them in the final burial as she picked the July 17 date herself. All these controversies which was never put to rest 11 months after his death must have been one of the reasons they never attended the event. Even one of them who is a strong politician in Gbogan and a Federal Lawmaker didn’t come. Though he was at the residence the day it was reported that he died. Two distant family members (a man and a woman) who were in attendance failed to disclose their names to this Magazine. Why did Honourable Ajanaku opt out at the eleventh hour? This is one of the questions we didn’t get answers to.
HIS WIFE’S MOVING TRIBUTE
Though Pastor Joy wrote her tribute in the burial pamphlet many didn’t expect that this woman would mount the podium that day. After repeatedly telling her children, Stella (9-year-old daughter, Apoti Eri (7year-old son) that their father was not dead, she picked the microphone a few minutes past 2 pm to give the final sermon. She picked up her Timbre(an instrument like Sekere) and did a special song for her husband. She later told the congregation that she had forgiven all that wronged her in the last 11 months since she lost her husband. Her words were” Even if they tell my husband to come back, he won’t come again”
OVER 30 SECURITY PERSONNEL ON GROUND
Right from the junction of Koya Street, where the church is located, policemen were deployed from Mosan-Okunola and Ipaja Ayobo Police Station. The truck was filled with fully armed personnel who were there to make sure law and order was maintained. There were also fierce looking security men and women who were at the entrance of the church. They made sure everybody was scrutinized while press tags were given to certified journalists. When it was past 4pm, the remains of the late prophet were whisked into his Ikola residence, only church members and journalists were allowed into the compound
HE WAS BURIED IN HIS LAST BIRTHDAY ATTIRE
Immediately the white casket was opened, people in the church were anxious to see what the body would look like, if it had been tampered with. A peep into the casket, the body which had turned black due to embalment was dressed in sparkling white Guinea. City People further gathered that it was his , 2013 birthday attire. This may have been worn due to the significance of what birthday is to him as he celebrated his birthday every year.
Ajanaku (Page4)a
CONTROVERSY ABOUT HIS AGE
This is one of the many questions which comes to the mind of many who attended the burial seeing that even though his obituary which was pasted along all nooks and crannies of Ipaja, Ayobo, Baruwa to mention a few none said anything about when he was born. All his birthdays never had any particular age. Even some he had in his early days in the ministries didn’t have his age. Speaking with a top church member, his words were “nobody knows Daddy’s age as we believe age is a thing of the mind. Further investigation revealed that he should be in his late 30s or early 40s.
PROPHET AJANAKU BURIED BY 4.45PM
After over 10 pastors including his wife prayed at the tomb, the LOTAD pallbearer took his casket in. At exactly 4.45pm, the remains of Pastor Ajanaku were committed to mother earth. He was buried beside the security post which is a glass house. This was the place which served as his office and reception for guests, and where he used to have press conferences. In fact, City People gathered that the spot where he was buried was where he used to sit to host guests.
TOPE ALABI & A-LIST MUSICIANS WHO WERE CLOSE TO HIM ALL ABSENT
Just as Prophet Ajanaku was buried, facts are beginning to emerge on those who have at one point or the other been acquainted to him. The likes of Tope Alabi never hid theirs when the going was good until the relationship turned sour. It came as a surprise to see that some people, at one point in time have met Ajanaku and even worshiped in his church. People were also surprised that Tope Alabi didn’t come to the burial of her former Prophet who she has always dedicated most of her albums to. Some of those whom the elders of the church were expecting to see were Sunny Ade (KSA), Bola Are, Shola Allison, Opelope Anonting e.t.c.
IFEMIDE LED OTHER GOSPEL MUSICIANS
Award-winning upcoming Gospel Singer of IFEMIDE led other in-house gospel musicians to the events. She revealed how she met the late Prophet Ajanaku in 31th of Dec 2012, how she was warned by musicians not to meet him. Other musicians who were at the event were Sis Busayo, Glorious Paul and others.
HOW HE STARTED CHRIST REVIVAL VICTORY CHAPEL WITH ONLY 12 MEMBERS
Just as Prophet Elijah Iretiola Ajanaku, the General Overseer of Christ Revival Victory Chapel International was buried, fresh facts began emerged on how he started his ministry 17 years ago. This man who has number 7 attached to every part of his life like all his house numbers, including rent ones he has ever lived in. Though from a Muslim background, he never loved to read the holy Quaran as he believed he was created for the purpose of JESUS CHRIST.
The ministry started at 17 Ogun Adewale Street, Ipaja with only 12 members in 1995. He later moved to Sulu close Opposite Community bank Ipaja where he always referred to as “Packing Case”, a small place built with perforated planks before the church eventually moved to her permanent site at Koya Akinwale street, the new headquarters.

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