..As Akeredolu Grieves
His Royal Highness (HRH) Zaki of Arigidi, Oba Yisa Olanipekun, has pleaded with the leaders of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) to preserve the remains of its late founder Prophet Temitope Joshua, popularly known as T.B. Joshua.
According to the monarch, the church authorities should suspend any burial arrangement pending the time an autopsy is carried out to ascertain the cause of the death of the renowned televangelist.
The New Diplomat had reported that T.B. Joshua, who hailed from Arigidi located in Akoko North West Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo State, passed away in the late hours of Saturday.
Although, the cause of his death remains sketchy as of press time, however, a family source who spoke with the newsmen disclosed that the pastor was ill two days before his demise.
According to the family source, T.B. Joshua was being conveyed to the hospital after conducting a service in his church when he passed away.
Also, Lagos state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, had revealed that the televangelist left the church service he was conducting for his apartment, after he felt a bit uncomfortable before he was rushed to the hospital. According to Odumosu’s account, he was confirmed dead by doctors around 3.00am on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Zaki of Arigidi, in his reaction described the loss of Joshua as shocking.
The Monarch also demanded that the remains of the pastor be brought to Arigidi ‘for final burial rights.’
The monarch made this known in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday.
Oba Olanipekun also commiserated with family and friends of the demise, as well as the entire people of Arigidi, describing his death as an irreparable loss.
The statement reads, “I am hereby making a demand that his body must be preserved intact until arrangements are made to examine and/or certify the cause of his death and the body is moved to Arigidi for final burial rights to be announced at a later date.
“On behalf of the Zaki-in-Council, the High Chiefs, the Elders and immediate family members of our late son, I commiserate with the President, the Governor of Ondo State, my beloved people of Arigidi and the people of Nigeria in general for the loss of our illustrious son. I pray that God, in His infinite mercies, will wipe off our tears.”
Similarly, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has mourned the demise of T.B. Joshua.
He said he was a philanthropist whose exit would be missed by many.
Akeredolu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Olatunde Richard, described him as a renowned man of God who demonstrated “an alluring service to humanity and compassion.”
The Governor also commiserated with the families and friends of Joshua, as well as the entire Ondo State.
The Statement reads, “Undoubtedly, Pastor Joshua’s demise came as a rude shock. The pains are not mere emotional flashes; they are indeed piercing. The Ondo-born Pastor and televangelist was committed to giving and was more often, inexorably imbued with calmness while lifting the downtrodden. As a televangelist, he did not just win souls for Christ, he was passionate about changing lives.
“He demonstrated timelessly, an alluring service to humanity and compassion by assisting not only his home local government, Akoko North West. Other adjoining local governments in Akoko land benefitted from his large heart of benevolence.
“Of significant note too, Pastor Joshua never hesitated to assist in whatever manner the Ondo State Government desired such. To us in Ondo State, we consider this a personal loss. He was a pride to the Sunshine State.
“Not only Africa is hit hard; this is a great global knock as his Pastor TB Joshua’s ministry attracted an immeasurable foreign followership. Christendom has lost a giant.
“The reality of the finality of death truly hurts the heart. But for TB Joshua, he had played his own part of the endless life orchestra; he has departed.
“We must take solace in his good deeds he while here. He is now a Heaven’s gain. The people have lost a committed giver. We shall continue to remember his contributions to the development of our State.”
