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Ondo deputy governor, Anglicans, others mourn, extol Ogunele’s virtues

By Felix Kuye, Chief Sub Editor
28 May 2019   |   3:48 am
The Ondo State Deputy Governor, Alfred Agboola Ajayi and the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion as well as other eminent Nigerians have mourned the late Bishop of the Diocese On the Coast, Rt. Revd. Joshua Ebunoluwa Ogunele.....

The Ondo State Deputy Governor, Alfred Agboola Ajayi and the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion as well as other eminent Nigerians have mourned the late Bishop of the Diocese On the Coast, Rt. Revd. Joshua Ebunoluwa Ogunele, whom they described as a revered and diligent servant of God.The cleric died on May 2, 2019.

In a condolence letter, Ajayi, who eulogized Ogunele for his exemplary leadership, noted that his love for the growth of the old Okitipupa division, comprising four local governments, and Ondo State was heart-warming and unprecedented.

In a similar letter issued on behalf of the Okitipupa Local Government, the caretaker chairman, Mrs. Morenike Alaka, said the Ikale nation had lost one of its illustrious sons, who served the Anglican communion with all his heart.

“It is a monumental loss! He was a great man of God. A fearless preacher/evangelist had gone down to earth. Our Lord bishop was a straightforward man who was not afraid to speak the truth at all times. A ladder- builder who permitted, equipped and empowered other leaders to create ladders for themselves. It will be difficult to fill the vacuum created by his death,” Alaka said.

The Church of Nigeria, in a statement by the General Secretary, Ven. Gershinen Paul Dajur, prayed that God should comfort the family of the deceased, preserve and strengthen the leaders of the diocese.

The Archbishop of the Province of Ondo, Most Revd. G. A. Akinbiyi, in his condolence message, said: “You have laboured hard for God. You have the good fight of faith, surely you have won the battle and your crown is waiting for you. Continue to rest peacefully with Christ till we meet to part no more.”

“We had anticipated a glorious reception for him in 2020 when he was billed to retire, but we never knew that God had a better plan. You came and made positive impact in your domain; you brought darkness to its kneels so much that idol worshippers confirmed that indeed you are a son of God,”said Ven. Oladejo Luji, the Dean of Ebenezer Anglican Cathedral, Ilutitun, the seat of the bishop.

Other fellow clerics who extolled the virtues of Ogunele include the Most Revd. Friday Imaekhai, Archbishop of Bendel Province; Bishops of Ilaje Diocese, Rt. Revd. Olugbemi; Idoani, Rt. Revd. E.B Dahunsi; Ekiti, Rt. Revd. C.T Omotunde; Irele-Ese Odo, Rt. Revd. Sunday Oyinlola; Sabongida Ora, Rt. Revd. Ohilebo; Ondo, Rt. Rev Stephen Adeniran Oni; and Oyo, Rt. Revd. Williams Aladekugbe.

Former commissioner for transport and senator-elect for Ondo South district, Nicholas Tofowomo and the newly elected member of the House of Representatives, Ikengboju Gboluga described the late bishop as very biblical, frank about truth telling and someone who shone a bright and wonderful light that killed ignorance.

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