Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has enjoined Nigerians to fervently pray for peace in the country as a pre-requisite for overall national growth and development.
Aiyedatiwa gave the admonition at the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of Motailatu Church of God (MCG), held at the International Headquarters of the church in Ondo City, Ondo State on Sunday.
The Governor who was represented by his Chief Press Secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, also praised members of Motailatu Church of God (MCG) over what he described as the unflinching support extended to his administration since he became the Governor of the Sunshine State in December 2023.
Aiyedatiwa described the Founder of the Church, Saint Isaiah Moyinlorun Akinadewo (Omo Jesu) as a true man of God, whose impacts in propagating the word of God in the minds of his children and millions of people since he founded the church in 1964 would remain indelible forever.
While congratulating members of the church over the 60-Year Celebrations, the governor urged them to continue in praying for more peace and harmony to continue to take its full course in Ondo State in particular and Nigeria in general.
He equally solicited for more supports from members of the church worldwide for his administration and urged them to embark on fervent prayers to ensure the success of the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Ondo State slated to hold on November 16, 2024.
Aiyedatiwa promised that his administration would continue to do more apparently to better the lots of the people of Ondo State.
The Chairman of the anniversary celebrations and a prominent Ondo leader and educationist, Chief Ade Iluyemi, who was supported by his wife and two-term Commissioner, Chief (Mrs.) Funke Iluyemi, lauded members of the church for their unrelenting efforts at propagating the word of God.
Chief Iluyemi who was a friend of the founder, assured members of Motailatu Church of continued support at all times.
He also advised the church leadership to ensure that the history of Motailatu Church of God beginning from Ibadan, to Ondo is captured in a published book for the benefit of future generations.
Earlier in his sermon, the Leader of Motailatu Church of God (MCG), Senior Superintendent Gabriel F. Akinadewo (Omo Jesu II), urged people of the country to continue looking up to God to assist Nigeria.
In the sermon entitled: “It is never too late for God Almighty to help”, Akinadewo who is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT), Motailatu Organisation Worldwide, stressed the need for leaders and the led in the country to do the right thing at the appropriate time.
The Cleric, who quoted several passages from the Holy Bible, also stressed the need for Christians to embark on spiritual warfare and prayers, saying “through this, Nigeria will overcome its present challenges, especially the issue of insecurity in some parts of the country”.
Speaking on the Diamond Jubilee Celebration, Akinadewo went down memory lane when his late father, Isaiah Moyinlorun Akinadewo, founded the church in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State in 1964 and later moved to Ondo town in 1977 “where he officially established the Church in 1981 at Oke-Iwosan, Ondo City which later became the International Headquarters of the Church”.
He also explained that the Church has made tremendous achievements, touching the lives of people in various communities.
The week-long celebrations featured revivals, medical outreach, anniversary thanksgiving, donations, prayers and songs ministration by the church choristers from various parishes.
The Secretary of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Motailatu Organisation Worldwide, Superintendent James K. Akinadewo was on hand to refresh the memory of the congregants on the spiritual exploits of the founder’s father, Saint Benjamin Akinadewo Adekahunsi, and how Omo Jesu eventually took the mantle from his father.
A son of the founder and renowned gospel musician, Very Rev’d David Akinadewo-Adekahunsi (Aremolekun), led the Central Choir of the church in rendering melodious songs during the one-week Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
In his appreciation speech, the Minister-in-Charge of the Headquarters, Snr. Apostle General Abayomi Daramola expressed gratitude to all dignitaries and parishioners who turned out in large numbers to celebrate with the church.
The spiritual events, held at the International Headquarters of the church, Saint Adekahunsi Cathedral, Oke-Iwosan, Ondo City, and the Mission House, had in attendance the Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, represented by His Chief Press Secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, former Ondo State representative on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Benson Enikuomehin, Primates and General Overseers of churches, leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), several Ondo Chiefs, the only surviving sibling of the founder, Rev’d Mother Felicia Akinadewo, children of the founder, parish heads and members of Motailatu Church from different parts of Nigeria, press men among others.
