Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Oyo State Governor ‘Seyi Makinde, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, David Oyedepo, and other dignitaries have honoured the National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Archbishop Francis Wale Oke, on his 70th birthday.

The dignitaries gathered at Cornerstone City, Ibadan for a grand thanksgiving service and reception to celebrate the Archbishop’s decades of Christian ministry, leadership and contributions to society.

The celebration attracted political, religious and traditional leaders, government officials, captains of industry, church leaders and members of the Christian community from across the country.

Bishop Oyedepo delivered the sermon at the thanksgiving service, which had the theme, “Engaging the Power of Thanksgiving for a Greater Tomorrow.”

He charged Christians to make thanksgiving a lifestyle, stressing that gratitude to God remained a pathway to greater grace, strength and divine preservation.

Drawing lessons from Psalms 92 and 103, Oyedepo said life, health, peace and salvation were gifts from God for which believers should continually give thanks.

He described thanksgiving as more than a religious ritual, saying it was a spiritual weapon for sustaining God’s blessings and moving believers from one level of grace to another.

Oyedepo also cautioned Christians against pride, urging them to recognise divine grace as the source of their achievements.

“Grace brought you to this point. Grace will take you higher,” he declared.

The service was also enlivened by musical ministrations from leading gospel artistes, including Nathaniel Bassey and Dunsin Oyekan, while 70 trumpeters from Ilorin performed special renditions in honour of the celebrant.

Speaking at the occasion, Obasanjo described the gathering as a family celebration and joined the congregation in thanking God for Wale Oke’s life and ministry.

Makinde said the Archbishop’s prayers, counsel and support had been invaluable to his administration since he assumed office in 2019.

He wished the celebrant more years of impactful service in good health and prayed for fresh anointing upon his life and ministry.

On his part, Aiyedatiwa described Wale Oke’s strength at 70 as evidence of God’s grace.

He recalled meeting the Archbishop as a young believer in Ibadan in 1988 and later reconnecting with him during his political career.

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, represented by the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, described Wale Oke as an illustrious son of Ibadan and one of the generals in God’s end-time army.

Ladoja lauded the Archbishop’s more than four decades of preaching, writing, broadcasting and Christian leadership, as well as his contributions to the development of Ibadan through educational institutions established by the Sword of the Spirit Ministries.

He also praised Wale Oke’s leadership of the PFN and his contributions to the Christian community and society.

Other dignitaries at the celebration included representatives of the governors of Delta, Bayelsa and Enugu states; representatives of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji; and political leaders, including 2027 Oyo State governorship aspirants, Senator Sharafadeen Alli and Bimbo Adekanmbi.

The thanksgiving service was followed by a reception where family members, friends, church leaders, political associates, traditional rulers and other well-wishers celebrated the Archbishop.

Gospel artistes Tope Alabi and Blessing Lopez also performed at the reception.

Responding to the outpouring of goodwill, Wale Oke expressed gratitude to God for His faithfulness and appreciation to the dignitaries, church leaders, family members and well-wishers who honoured him.

He described every breath of life as a gift from God and prayed for longer life, good health, greater strength and divine blessings for those who joined him in celebrating his 70th birthday.

The Archbishop particularly appreciated Obasanjo, Makinde, Aiyedatiwa, Oyedepo, PFN leaders, church fathers and his wife, Reverend Victoria Oke, for their support, prayers and encouragement over the years.