It was a full house at the Pro. (Dr.) Gabriel Olubunmi Fakeye Memorial Cathedral of the Surulere District Headquarters of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church (Ayo ni o) in Lagos as dignitaries honoured the memory of the late Prophet (Dr.) Gabriel Fakeye (Special Apostle for Evangelism), who passed on in January 2015.
The event was the fourth edition of the memorial lecture series to immortalise the first and a former Spiritual Leader of the Surulere District of CSMC.
Born in 1937, Fakeye would have clocked 79 on March 11, 2015, if he had not passed on to glory in January of that year.
An engineer by training, the late Fakeye was a devoted prophet of God, a person of manifest devotion to family and friends, a visionary leader with profound knowledge, grasp, and appreciation of history.
He was also a renowned televangelist, radio evangelist and a quintessential C&S leader, who carried out his calling with finesse, grace, and candour.
Popularly known as ‘The Psalmist’, Fakeye’s sterling leadership qualities, humility, spiritual prowess, love of Christ and the zeal to promote the cause of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church (Ayo ni o) were extolled in several goodwill messages delivered at the memorial lecture.
Prominent among such goodwill messages was that of the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, who described the attendance at the event as evidence of a life well spent by the late Fakeye.
He appreciated the CSMC for the unity and love that had remained embedded in the church while describing such embedded qualities as a reflection of the life of the late prophet.
The Ooni of Ife urged the congregation to keep up with the cooperation and internal cohesion so evident in their midst because it was the only way the church could continue to wax stronger.
On other ways that the late prophet could be immortalised, the founder of the Love of Christ Generation Church in London, the United Kingdom, Rev. Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi, said some of the sermons/messages of late Dr Fakeye could be documented on audio and video tapes and made available to the public.
Rev. Mother Ajayi, who regretted not meeting the late Prophet Fakeye before his demise, lauded his vision for the Cherubim & Seraphim Movement Church, adding that it was only the late prophet who understood the vision and the mandate given to him by God.
She was, however, optimistic that members of the church who also understood the vision would continue to live and expand on it while maintaining the legacy of the late preacher.
In his lecture titled: “Peace, Justice and Righteousness – the Spiritual Imperatives for National Growth and Development,” a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Emeritus Professor Francis Fajemirokun, who was the guest lecturer, called upon the church to lead the journey to a peaceful Nigeria through righteousness.
Fajemirokun urged Christians to stand in the gap to practice righteousness and justice in other to solve the spiritual aspects of Nigeria’s myriads of problems, because “it is only when the spiritual is resolved, that the physical (challenges) can be battled.”
According to him, for as long as corruption, injustice and unrighteousness linger on in the nation, peace and development won’t prevail.
He asserted that as Christians, “we cannot but consider the spiritual problem of the country as it concerns the trio of peace, justice and righteousness. They are spiritual imperatives that must be taken care of before the country can start to grow and make progress.”
He added that a firm belief in God and the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ by all Christians would certainly help all to live in God’s love and obedience to his laws and this would grant the righteousness of God in Christ, justice and peace.
The varsity don noted that Nigeria had not fared well due to corruption and injustice, which he said had their roots in unrighteousness and sin. He was, however, optimistic that there was room for improvement once the right things were done.
The Emeritus Prof. listed corruption, violence, insecurity, nepotism, and impunity, among others, as Nigeria’s major problems.
He, however, advised the country’s leaders to repent and behave in a godly manner.
“They should be prepared to serve and Nigerians should begin to reject impunity,” he added.
He said it was rather unfortunate that instead of the leaders serving the people, they were masters, and thieves who wanted to plunder the nation, “else they won’t kill people to be there.”
“As long as corruption, injustice and unrighteousness manifest themselves, we will never have peace, and if we do not have peace, we cannot have growth or development because development happens only in an atmosphere where there are peace, justice and righteousness,” Fajemirokun added.
Quoting the book of Matthew 6:33, he said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
He was optimistic that Nigeria as a nation, through her Christian population, with the active influence of Christian leaders, would ignite the required growth and development.
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