…Otubu has good intentions – Primate Sule
A cross-section of elders in the Cherubim and Seraphim church have reacted to the meeting held recently by a coalition of leaders from constituent C&S churches in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The meeting which was convened on Saturday, July 9, 2022, by Elder Professor Joseph Otubu, and also held at his church, The Eternal Glory Church of C & S, had in attendance District heads and luminaries of sixteen constituent churches.
The highlighted churches include, The ESOCS, Praying Band of C&S, The Sacred C&S, C&S Movement Church Daki-Biyu and Gethsemane Districts, Omo Agbo Jesu, Ikirun Conference, Ona Iwa Mimo, Atunbi Mose, Divine Power of C&S Mission, MCC&S JAH ZION, Holy Messiah-Revival Center, Land of Canaan and C&S Development Organization international- Northern Zone.
In a communique jointly signed by the leaders present at the meeting, Elder Otubu said the alliance would respond in various forms to attacks, wrong notions and intentional negative brush paintings on the C&S Church’s image.
While stating that the synergy would form a common front that must speak for the C&S Church in the FCT, he noted that the meeting was received with great joy and approval by all leaders present.
Elder Otubu who is a former Vice Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) however clarified that the gathering was not targeted at forming another organization within the C&S fold nor interfering with the structures of the already established churches rather, he called for the meeting to suggest a coalition of C&S leaders in Abuja.
Elders in the church, in a random chat with Acts of Seraphs, expressed their views about the coalition which had since drawn reactions from across board.
The General Secretary Ona Iwa Mimo C&S Church Nigeria & Overseas, Special Apostle Elijah Aborode, commended the development, saying it is for the progress of the Church.
“The move is a good development since it is for the benefit of the C & S church and also to move the church forward. Our representative informed me before attending the meeting. I also reached out to the Secretary General of C & S Unification and he confirmed to me that he was aware. He said the Unification chairman in Abuja informed him, and there was nothing to worry about.”
Elder Aborode urged the leaders of constituent churches present at the meeting to ensure that they carry their central leadership along on the outcome of subsequent meetings and also be on the same path with the C & S Unification body.
Confirming the receipt of the communique, the Secretary General of Praying Band, Senior Apostle Kofo Odukoya said, “The communique was sent to me by our representative. We are going to hold our executive meeting this weekend where I will present it for deliberation, and I will get back to you on the outcome”.
Sources from other constituent churches also confirmed to Acts of Seraphs that their apex leadership were notified and also got feedbacks on the outcome of the meeting.
The immediate past Secretary General of C & S Unification, Special Apostle Akin Owolabi said, it is not impossible for every Seraph to come together as one, as it is the only way the C & S church can command respect.
“It is doable for all C&S Churches to unite as one entity, speak with one voice and do things in common under one Shepherd and be recognised globally as such. It is then that the Church will command the necessary respect that should be accorded to a Church that is very close to its Centenary milestone.”
He enjoined churches that are not under the unification body to drop their ego and join others to build the C&S Church of the future which is the envisaged glorious destination.
The Chief Public Relations Officer of C&S Unification, Supt. Apostle Muyiwa Adeyemi, said people are free to form any association as the constitution allows it, adding that the agenda of the meeting is similar to what the Unification body is trying to achieve.
“When I look at some of the agendas mentioned you will admit that it is one of the agendas that we are already looking into. So, those issues are not what people in Abuja can single-handedly address. Besides, some of the leaders are not the overall leaders of their respective churches. They have leaders at the national level of their church.
“If it is the initiative of the Abuja branch of elders to discuss C&S matter, no problem, but they should be aware that whatever they are doing must be in consonance with what Unification is doing, unless people will misinterpret that body to mean something else. And that is not what we want now in C & S. All what we want in the church and what everybody agreed on is that we should try to fortify the common front which is C & S Unification Church of Nigeria. All these centrifugal forces, I think nobody seems interested in them again. We want to continue to speak in one voice,” he added.
Reiterating the agenda of the communique, the Abuja Chairman of C & S Unification, Primate Oluwasola Sule, told Acts of Seraphs that the meeting was held to promote the cause of uniting Seraphs, adding that it would hold on a quarterly basis.
Speaking about the convener, he said, “Anytime we invite him, he’s always with us but he has not joined fully. We always brief him concerning anything relating to C&S unification in Abuja and he is always with us. Just like what we agreed, he has promised to attend all C&S programmes.
Asked if Elder Otubu plans to join Unification, Primate Sule said, “We want C&S to be one and the other time he met with Baba Aladuras in Lagos. This include Baba Bob Emmanuel, Baba Olori and other five prominent C&S in Lagos at Sheraton Hotel. He is just starting the one in Abuja so that he can take it up also. So, that is why we have to go to use the national stadium for our crusade in December and we are carrying along all C&S including Development.”
Regarding the mixed reactions that trailed the intentions of the convener, Primate Sule said, “At this level, I don’t condemn people. Anybody can change at any time. But I will not be a party to any divisive C & S. He has good intentions. So, he wants to bring C & S together so that we will have things together. That was his discussion with me before he even convened the meeting. I will have hand where there will be unity in C&S, I can assure you. Where there is division, I will opt out. No one can force me to do something that my conscience will not buy; my conscience is always right. He has convened the meeting, he has told us his mission and let us follow. On the crusade we plan to hold, we are going to invite all the Baba Aladuras. Fortunately, I am a member of the committee. That was our maiden meeting, so we will inform people as we proceed.”
Although, Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim, ESOCS, was not part of the meeting, a top elder in the church who preferred anonymity told this platform that Elder Otubu’s attempt to extend an olive tree to the church where he was once a member could work out.
He said, “You know Otubu used to be a member of our church, but not any longer. His second in command has returned to our church. So, reconciliation is very possible, but it is at the discretion of the Baba Aladura”
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