Emmanuel Abodunrin
Just as the Bible says in Revelation 14:13 that “…blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works follow them.” (NKJV), the works of His Most Eminence Baba Aladura, Dr. Godfery Itse Mene Otubu (Adonai Shaba), are following him years after he passed on to greater glory.
Born on February 24, 1924, the late Otubu ended his eventful journey on earth on November 17, 2004, and was buried in Oghara, Delta State.
Fondly called Moses Orimolade VI, the late Otubu was ordained the Prelate of The Eternal Sacred Order of The Cherubim & Seraphim Worldwide in 1986 and was reputed to have played a pivotal role in the advancement of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim & Seraphim. He was the Prelate/Baba Aladura from 1986 to 2004.
Fondly remembered by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren on Tuesday, November 17, 2020, Mone Otubu, who wrote on behalf of the family, said, “Not a day goes by that we don’t think about you. We wish we still had your wisdom to guide us through our everyday.
“Every day without you has been hard, but on this day especially we can’t help but think how much we wish you were here with us.
“You were the guiding light of our lives, and today especially we are reminded how lucky we were to have you for as long as we did”
She added, “How lucky we were to have had a father so special that we miss you this much. As much as we hate not having you around, we are happy to know you’re at peace. You may not be with us anymore, but our love for you will never die.”
The Eternal Sacred Order of The Cherubim & Seraphim Worldwide, in its historical documents on the late Baba Aladura, said, “In 1954, when he (Otubu) took up civil service appointment in Enugu, he started worshipping at the Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim at Chief Agbor Street, Asata, Enugu. He started all over again from the beginning as Aladura and rose through the ranks and was ordained Apostle in 1959.”
The late Otubu was reputed to have worked tirelessly in Eastern Nigeria alongside others to ‘propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ and to spread the doctrine of ESOCS building prayer houses, opening new branches and converting new members to the Holy Order.’
“At a time, when the Holy Order was seen by other people as an anathema, he was not ashamed to carry the cross,” the church said.
The church added, “Noticing a striking lack of uniformity in the way officers of the Order were conducting church services, with people doing different and sometimes contradicting things, he wrote and caused to be published a booklet entitled “Explanatory Notes” which sort to standardise the order of worship and is still in use till today.
“He also published a guide entitled Duties of workers for all officers of the Holy Order on ‘matters of conduct in and out of the office and on questions of propriety and decorum in their behaviours.”
The late Baba Aladura Otubu was said to have taken it upon himself to translate and modernise ESOCS hymns from their traditional Yoruba into English, and the compilation of such hymns (together with other popular church hymns) into a single convenient volume.
“When he arrived in Lagos, he worshipped with Elder E. Olu Coker, who had been their leader at Rufai Street, Surulere, and from there he was introduced to the Baba Aladura at Mount Zion Headquarters, Ebute-Metta,” the church historical documents obtained by Adura International Magazine revealed.
“In the same year, he was admitted as a member of the Executive Committee by the Baba Aladura after the decision in the High Court in case No 194/59. The advisory board was organised, Mount Zion and Idi-Oro Court came together to form the Advisory Board.
“During the 1969 crisis at Ebute-Metta, Elder Otubu along with Elders Ojo, Uwanikone, Badejo and Ayo Olugbusi were arrested and charged with murder but thank God, they were all discharged and acquitted. Elder Otubu, under the direction of Late Baba Aladura Olugbusi, contributed immensely to the acquisition of the land for the relocation of the New National Headquarters to Surulere and almost single-handedly built the new Cathedral at Tejuosho, Surulere.”
The church also credited the Baba Aladura as being instrumental in the establishment of the Holy Order in London, England and New York, the United States of America and the spread of the Holy Order throughout the world.
“As a result of his hard work and loyalty to the church and the then Baba Aladura, he was ordained Chancellor to the Baba Aladura, a post that has not been held by any other member of the Holy Order, until recently,” the church documents revealed.
In 1961, he was appointed Secretary to the Holy Order and later ordained Senior Apostle General (S.A.G.) in 1973; a post he held till 1985 when he was appointed Baba Aladura by the Advisory Board. His Induction Ceremony as Baba Aladura was held on 12th September 1986 at the Mount Zion National Headquarters Surulere Lagos.
The late Baba Aladura Otubu was said to have introduced the posts of Special Senior Apostle, Apostle General and Supervising Apostle General as well as Senior Mother in Israel.
He also established the King David Association, the Eternal Touch Bearers Association and the Eternal Sisters Association.
The versatile Prelate also created the Central Management Committees (CMC) as well as Finance Committee to ensure probity, accountability and good governance in all the provinces of the Holy Order.
“Baba Aladura Otubu greatly enhanced the image of the Holy Order in Nigeria and abroad. He was a member of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN); National President of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC); the International President of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches with headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya and Member of Nigeria Inter Religion Council (NIREC) among others,” the church said.
After his death, Elder (Dr.) E, Olu Okeyemi was ordained Baba Aladura on September 8, 2005.
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