- Pastor Kayode Pitan Takes Over Leadership
- Deploys Him to Look After Elders…
By Abiola Olawale
The authorities of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) have reportedly removed Pastor Idowu Iluyomade as the head pastor of the City of David Parish, Region 20, located in Victoria Island, Lagos State.
According to reports, Iluyomade has been reportedly transferred to RCCG Throne of Grace, Ebute Metta, Lagos, which serves as the headquarters of the mission.
At the RCCG Throne of Grace, Iluyomade is expected to serve as the Pastor-in-Charge of elders.
Following the action, Pastor Kayode Pitan has been named as the new pastor of the RCCG City of David Parish.
Sources privy to this latest development maintain the development was confirmed on Sunday, June 2, during the monthly Thanksgiving service held across all RCCG branches worldwide.
According to the source, the absence of Iluyomade and his wife, Pastor Siju Iluyomade, during the service was an indication that the pastor might have come to terms with this development.
The Thanksgiving service was reportedly led by Iluyomade’s assistant, Pastor Trevor Akindele.
Another insider source who spoke with The New Diplomat said Iluyomade might not be quite pleased with the transfer, citing his longstanding efforts in kickstarting the Trinity Towers, a project worth over 10 billion Naira, as a big asset which ought to count in his favour while considering postings and redeployment. According to reports, the Church is still indebted to Access Bank on account of that big project.
Additionally, Iluyomade, who is 65 years old, reportedly expressed discomfort with the fact that he has not attained the retirement age of 70 and it was therefore inappropriate to deploy him to headquarters in Ebute Metta.
While the real reason for the development remains unclear there are speculations that the 60th birthday celebration of his wife, Siju Iluyomade, shortly after the death of the Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, Mr Herbert Wigwe, might have influenced this latest decision.
It would be recalled that there was lavish party, held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, which was greeted with criticism, as it came days after the death of an influential member of the Church, Wigwe.
It would be recalled that Wigwe died along with his wife, Chizoba, their son, Chizi, former Chairman of Nigeria Exchange Group, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, the pilot and co-pilot, in a Di Airbus Helicopter EC 130B4 with registration number N130CZ, near Halloran Springs, California, on February 9.
The family of the Wigwes had shunned the City of David in the burial programme, as they held a combined Service of Songs at another parish of the Church in Lagos, RCCG, Resurrection Parish, Lekki, among other events in Lagos and Rivers states.
