Kunle Adelabu
A book titled, ’Journey of Grace: Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Ikorodu’, written in commemoration of the twenty-five years anniversary of the inauguration of Patriarch Bolaji Methodist Church, Ita-Elewa in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, as a Diocese has been presented to the public.
The launching of the seven chapters and 246-page book on the history of Ikorodu Diocese was held at the main auditorium of the Church on Wednesday, January 29, 2020.
Otunba (Engr.) Akinola Awomodu, the Otunba Anoko/Ogbonyari of Ikorodu Kingdom, was the Chief Launcher.
Ikorodu Diocese of Methodist Church of Nigeria has Patriarch Bolaji Methodist Church, Ita-Elewa as its seat of Bishop and headquarters with five Circuits under its jurisdictions – Ikorodu, Somolu, Igbogbo, Agbowa and Oke-Eletu.
Sir (Otunba) Ayodele Elesho, the Chairman, Anniversary Planning Committee and Secretary, History Book Committee, in his welcome address, stated that the Church is celebrating the anniversary of its inauguration as a Diocese.
He added that the book documented individuals, especially the former National President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and Chairman of the History Book Committee of the Church, Sir (Chief) Babatunde Olushola Benson, SAN, KJW, and other historical facts about the Diocese.
“What we are doing today is the celebration of the Diocese birthday.
“In the book, you will read about Baba B.O. Benson because he’s the architect of this project that we are celebrating today”.
While appreciating members of the committee, Otunba Elesho, who is also the Chairman, Book Update Committee, also urged guests and Church congregation to support the celebration so that the Diocese can move forward.
The Chairman of the occasion, Dr Omotunde Ogunlaja, congratulated the Church on the anniversary.
He stated that it is not an easy task to compile an history book and commended the committee, especially the chairman, for putting the book together.
The book reviewer, Very Revd. Sunday Oluwole Adegbola, stated that the book is historically depicting twenty- five years journey of grace, collection of facts, memories and milestones of God’s enabling grace as well as the grace that prevailed over issues of lives.
“Facts and figures therein show that grace are convincing and not controversial. This is evident in the introductory part of the foreword to the book on page 9.
“Birthing the early Church dwelled more on love lavished on the early Church that was impacted on Africa continent. Love and mercy was prominent and grace was played down as affecting the diocese in Ikorodu. Mercy and grace are seemingly to be the same but they are different
“Grace is when God is blessing us despite that we do not deserve it. Mercy is God not punishing us as our sins deserve. Mercy is deliverance from judgment,while Grace is extending kindness to the unworthy”.
He stated that the writer toes the path of foreign writers with erroneous belief that greater part of Africa worshipped idols before the advent of the European missionaries.
Adegbola stated that scholars like Bolaji Idowu, Dapo Asaju and Awolalu are of the position that Africans had their relationship with God long before the arrival of missionaries from Europe.
He commended the book for usage of simple language, readability, attractiveness and usage of pictorial evidences.
“Pictorial evidences and documentation are highly impressive. The book is evidently buttressing. Documentation is laudable and appreciated in the book”, the reviewer commended.
While stating that “the book is impactful and the short biography of Bolaji Idowu was appropriate to justify contributions to education on page 123”, the reviewer also pointed out some of the shortcomings of the book like omission of some names that ought to be on the roll call, wrong dating and placing of photographs and improper referencing of the book among others.
Revd. Adegbola recommended the book to the public, stating that many will find it useful and interesting in developing their perspective and skill needed to move the Church forward in the 21st century.
Bishop of Diocese of Ikorodu, Rt. Revd. Samson O. Osundina, in remarks, congratulated those that started the Diocesan journey that are still alive to witness its anniversary and the completion of the book which he stated documented everything about struggle.
“All thanks to God that those that we are celebrating their efforts are alive and they are not just alive, they are gloriously alive to witness the event of today marking the celebration of the church as a Diocese.
“Permit me to single out Sir and Dame Olusola Benson. Baba (Chief Benson) was then the Lay President of Conference and did all within his power in making sure that what is now 25 years old today was conceived, given birth to and nurtured till date. I congratulate you for allowing yourself to be used by God to achieve this”, Bishop Osundina stated.
“I say congratulations to the Diocese of Ikorodu and congratulations to the man that God used then to achieve this who is now the Asiwaju of Ikorodu, Chief B.O. Benson. I also congratulate the Chairman of the planning committee, Sir Ayodele Elesho and the incumbent Lay President, Sir David Sunmoni.
“Today, we are here celebrating and God is saying congratulations to all of us. This is how far we have gone on the journey that started twenty – five years ago. Another thing to rejoice about our assemblage here today is the book that we are launching today”, he stated.
He stated that the book that was launched was over 90% completed by Chief Benson when the Church was planning for the 20th anniversary of the Diocese.
The Lay President of the Diocese who was the former Accountant-General of Lagos State, Sir David Sunmoni, described himself as the luckiest person being the incumbent head of the laity in the Diocese when the anniversary is being celebrated.
“The person that deserved most honour for today’s celebration is our father, Sir (Chief) Dr. Olusola Benson, because when this Diocese was inaugurated, this my mentor was the National or Conference Lay President and I can adduce reasons for that”, Sir Sunmoni stated while congratulating Sir Benson for witnessing the anniversary celebration.
“This book that we are actually launching today was not actually written by the Book Update Committee but by the committee for the twenty anniversary of the Diocese which Chief Benson happens to be its chairman with the current planning committee chairman, Sir Ayodele Elesh, as the secretary and others as members.
“The third reason Chief Benson deserved most honour today is that today, he’s not only witnessing the 25th anniversary of what he started and the launch of the book that he pioneered but also that we that are his children are now in-charge of the Church and the anniversary celebration.
“The book encompasses all salient points about the formation of the Diocese of Ikorodu 25 years ago when it consisted of five Circuits with Ikorodu as the headquarters. We thank God that we have nurtured many Churches that are now on their own today and the Church of God is still moving forward.
“All the landmarks, milestone achievements and all the people that are involved when it started are all very well documented in the history book and appropriately, the book is titled, ‘Journey of Grace’, because God has actually been very gracious to us”.
He charged members of the Church to have at least a copy of the book in their libraries or homes.
Former National Lay President of the Church, Sir (Chief) Babatunde Benson, SAN, who also spoke at the launching, emphasized the importance of keeping records to human developments.
The former National President of NBA stated that like every other organisation in Nigeria, the Church lacks good record keeping which accounted for many problems.
“The problem is that we don’t keep records in Methodist Church. This (the book) was definitely coined from the 100 years of Methodist Church in lkorodu but do many of us know that or have the document (original document)?”, he queried.
“May be because of my training, I was able to keep these things.
“This is the first time that I would be seeing the book. Such a beautiful thing. I do hope that we made enough copies go round”, he asked.
“We used to have a library up there when this place was built….”
“This place was the Church (the old Church building) when I was very young. The water we were drinking was somewhere there. We usually fetch and take it home”, the legal luminary who is close to 88 years recalled.
“When we had to do this (write the book), I had a copy (original book), from Chief H.O. Onafowokan, who also was a very good keeper of documents”.
He stated that the shortcomings in the book was due to the uncooperative attitudes of former Clergies posted to the Church.
Chief Benson stated that those Clergies believed that they are God and imposed their will on the Laity which he refused.
“I am glad that the present Presbyter (reviewer) looked into it and picked out many things. The problem we had with the ministers then was that they believed that they are God and I said that they are not”
“We have the Laity and the Clergy in the Church, but the Clergy will want to say that they are there (dominate). Unfortunately, some of us are trained… We used to have Bishop Sholanke which this Church sponsored to Ibadan. He was on our side…. “
“When we finished that book, we asked the ministers to give us their pictures but they refused. Certain things are not there because they won’t answer when you ask for it”, he stated.
“We thank God that it has come out”, he stated.
Chief Benson, who is the Asiwaju of Ikorodu Kingdom, also revealed that he is working on a new book titled, “Last lap of my years”.
“I am trying to write another book. The book is called the last lap of my years. I am now close 88 but everything about myself have already been written about but there is this and so many other things that came late”, he stated.
“This book (that is being launched) is going to be part of the book that l am working on. I will also acknowledge Bro Adegbola’s comment (review) on the work that I have done 25 years ago.
“Everyone of us must have it but unfortunately, the Methodist Church Nigeria don’t keep records. The book is actually what its reflects and I thank God for everything “.
The weeklong Silver jubilee celebration commenced on Monday, January 27, and will end on Sunday, February 2, 2020, with a grand finale/thanksgiving and award service.
Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State, and his Oyo State counterpart, Mr Oluseyi Makinde, are expected to grace the grand finale outing which comes up at Patriarch Bolaji Methodist Church, Ita-Elewa in Ikorodu.
