Primate Ayodele Crashes Price Of Rice To N15,000, Awards Scholarship, Plants New Church In Ekiti

The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has extended his benevolence to his hometown, Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti state.

In an event held yesterday Friday, 26th Of April 2024, Primate Ayodele commemorated the planting of a new church in his hometown with another edition of his palliative market which has been held twice in his Lagos headquarters.

The unprecedented programme which started with a rally on Thursday, 25th of April 2024 witnessed thousands of Ikere-Ekiti indigenes in attendance including very important personalities like the Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti,Oba Adejimi Alagbado, His chiefs, Ikere LG chairman, Hon Olu Adamolekun Egbejoda, nd Chairman lkere West LCDA, Hon Rufus Olorunfemi.

As it has always been done in his Lagos church where the man of God sold food items at ridiculous prices, Ikere-Ekiti also experienced the reality of Primate Ayodele’s palliative market as several people got a bag of rice for N15,000, beverages for N1,000, a carton of Indomie for N2,000, Groundnut oil for N3,000, Semovita for N3,000, Wheat for N3,000 and Beans for N3,000.

In addition, scholarships were given to students, grinding machines, sewing machines, dryers, to mention a few were given out to women in Ikere-Ekiti for free.

While speaking about the reason behind the largesse, Primate Ayodele explained that it was a result of divine instructions since the politicians that are supposed to provide succor for the people have failed to carry out their responsibilities.

He also stated that wants to correct the notion that men of God use tithes to flaunt their expensive lifestyle when in reality, He uses tithes and offerings including his personal funds to take care of widows and the less privileged.

‘’I expect some of our politicians to be involved in things that will bring succor to the people but they don’t seem to be concerned with the well-being of those they are supposed to be serving. God has laid it upon my heart to embark on this project to support ordinary people and that’s why we are doing this.’’

‘’We also want to correct the narration that men of God use tithes to buy exotic cars and flaunt their lifestyle. If there are clerics involved in such a shameless act, we are different. We make use of our tithes and offerings to take care of widows and less privileged without regard for their religion.’’

Furthermore, Primate Ayodele hailed the Ogaga of Ikere-Ekiti for gracing the programme with his presence while urging the local government chairmen to speak to the state government to develop Ikere-Ekiti.

‘’I have never seen any king like the Ogaga of Ikere-Ekiti. He is a monarch that exudes class; He is factual, honest, vibrant, and intelligent. We have never seen a king like Oba Adejimi Alagbado, Ikere-Ekiti is indeed blessed to have him.’’

‘’I also want to appeal to our local government chairman to speak to the governor to develop Ikere-Ekiti. We expect the government to love the people; they need to work on our roads and security. While we were young, we used to leave our doors open without any fear of theft but nowadays, it’s impossible. These are basic things the government should provide for the people.’’

In his speech, Oba Adejimi Alagbadon appreciated Primate Ayodele for remembering Ikere-Ekiti despite the fact that his ministry has taken him far and wide globally. He described the prophet as someone who has made his father proud.

The monarch marveled at the amount of money the prophet spent for the programme which was majorly for charity purposes. He further called on the people of Ikere-Ekiti to support the new church in a way to show gratitude to Primate Ayodele for his magnanimity towards them.

‘’We appreciate God for empowering Primate Elijah Ayodele and I want to congratulate the people of Ikere-Ekiti for a day like this. This is the beginning of a good thing in our town and we appreciate the son of the soil, Primate Ayodele who has also made his father proud on this day. We knew his father to be a good man and I congratulate myself on this feat.’’

‘’As I was seated here, I tried to calculate the amount of money this man of God has spent on feeding, scholarship, palliatives, and logistics; I can only pray that God continues to uplift him. He has become a cornerstone in the prophetic, he speaks to nations but he remembered his home town, Ikere-Ekiti, he remembered the widows and the needy, I pray God continues to elevate him.’’

‘’We were in Lagos in February to commission his church building and today, he has brought a church to Ikere-Ekiti too. I want the people of Ikere-Ekiti to support him because this is our church. He has done well for us and we should show gratitude by supporting him too.’’

Ibadan Mogajis pledge allegiance to Olubadan-designate

FAMILY heads in Ibadan, also known as Ibadan Mogajis, on Thursday, visited the  Olubadan-designate, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, and pledged their allegiance to him.

The exercise was in fulfilment of the Ibadan tradition upon the nomination of Olakulehin as the Olubadan-designate.

The Mogajis were led by the Aare Egbe Mogaji, Asimiyu Ariori, to the private residence of Oba Olakulehin in the Alalubosa Government Reserved Area, Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

The PUNCH reports that the Olubadan-In-Council nominated and forwarded the name of Oba Olakulehin to the state government, after an April 16 selection meeting called by the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, at Oja’ba Palace in Ibadan.

The stool became vacant after the demise of Oba Lekan Balogun, who reigned for two years before joining his ancestors at the age of 81 years.

Speaking during their visit to the Olubadan-designate, the Mogajis, speaking through Ariori, pledged their support to the monarch and prayed for sound health and long life during his reign.

The Mogajis also sought the permission of the Olubadan-designate to visit the Otun Balogun, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, in line with the tradition, noting that the same was done to the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, after they visited the 42nd Olubadan, the late Oba Lekan Balogun, upon nomination.

Oba Olakulehin, who in his response, granted their request and appreciated the Mogajis for the visit, prayed that each of them would fulfil their desires on the path to the Olubadan throne.

The younger brother of the monarch, Chief Osuolale Owolabi, thanked the Mogajis for their pledge of support and obeisance to the Olubadan-designate.

Delta bloodbath: Villagers shun Reps hearing

MEMBERS of the House of Representatives Committee on Defence were in Warri, Delta State, on Wednesday, for the scheduled investigative hearing into the killing of 17 military personnel at Okuama community, in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The investigative hearing was in line with the resolution of the House during its sitting on March 19 to investigate the remote causes of the incident.

The PUNCH reports that 17 military personnel, including a Lieutenant Colonel, two Majors and a Captain, were ambushed and killed by yet-to-be-identified gunmen while they were in Okuama on a peacekeeping mission.

Following the incident, military personnel, in what was considered to be a reprisal, demolished and razed houses in the Okuama riverine community, with residents taking refuge in the neighbouring bushes of Ewu Kingdom.

The House committee members, led by Babajimi Benson, arrived at the sitting venue at the Government House Annex, Edjeba, in Warri South Local Government Area of the state, at about 10.45 a.m. but waited endlessly for indigenes of the troubled Okuama community to make their presentations.

However, while the waiting lasted, sources said the villagers failed to show up for “fear of arrest or intimidation by the military.”

However, the committee chairman, while addressing journalists, said the committee had received useful memoranda on the incident from some stakeholders.

The House committee members, led by Babajimi Benson, arrived at the sitting venue at the Government House Annex, Edjeba, in Warri South Local Government Area of the state, at about 10.45 a.m. but waited endlessly for indigenes of the troubled Okuama community to make their presentations.

However, while the waiting lasted, sources said the villagers failed to show up for “fear of arrest or intimidation by the military.”

However, the committee chairman, while addressing journalists, said the committee had received useful memoranda on the incident from some stakeholders.

Benson also disabused the minds of Okuama indigenes who might be worried about their safety, assuring them that “there would be no witch-hunt whatsoever.”

He advised members of the public who are willing to submit a memorandum to do so in 10 copies and submit the same to the committee within one week.

He said they could submit such memoranda to the clerk of the committee, Musa Aliyu at the National Assembly, Abuja, or at the public investigative hearing.

He said, “The House of Representatives Committee on Defence looks forward to a robust engagement and meaningful contributions from all stakeholders.

“We came in yesterday (Tuesday). We met Governor Oborevwori and we told him our mission. We’re here today (Wednesday) to see members of the community on camera and by way of memoranda.

“We’ve received a lot of memoranda from them but they’ve not turned out physically. The window is extended for a week. So we’re still expecting a lot more memorandum from the people of Okuama community.

“We’ve assured the governor and the people that we have the full backing of the House of Representatives to ensure that this matter is reviewed from both sides and followed to a logical conclusion.”