CAC @100: Authorities of CAC Worldwide paid courtesy visit to house of first CAC President, Oba I. B Akinyele

By 'Gbenga Bankole

The General Superintendent of Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide, Pastor S.O. Oladele and General Evangelist, Prophet Hezekiah O. Oladeji on Tuesday October 23, 2018 paid a courtesy visit to the house of the first President of the church, Oba (Pastor) I. B Akinyele, Olubadan of Ibadan.

It was gathered that the courtesy visit is part of the preparation for the centenary celebration of the church.

The President of the mission, Pastor Abraham O. Akinosun said not too long ago that idol worshipping reduced in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, during the reign of the late Oba Akinyele, who was the Olubadan between 1955 and 1964.

According to the Pastor Akinosun, Akinyele’s dual feat as a monarch and head of a church, two positions that traditionally conflicted each other, was a blessing to the CAC and a vessel of liberation for the people of Ibadan.

He said: “Oba Akinyele is the only President in the history of the church who also became the monarch of a large city like Ibadan. He combined the two responsibilities successfully and fought hard to liberate Ibadan from the then Oyo empire. During his time, idolatry diminished. Idol worshipping became infamous and countless souls were won for Christ.”

Pastor Akinosun said the late monarch bequeathed over   75 per cent of his landed property to the church, one of which is the land on which the church’s headquarters  stands.

In the same vein, Prof. Olubunmi Oshun, a former Vice-Chancellor of Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), said the late Oba Akinyele was an ideal leader.

He said: ”He resisted high-handedness and remained upright, impartial and incorruptible.”

The don said Oba Akinyele’s time as king and church leader was worthy of study and emulation by leaders in the church and government circles.

Oshun added: ”Baba (Oba Akinyele) was a man of influence and great power, yet he was God fearing. As a farmer who farmed in various site, he built CAC churches on the farms. That way he ensured that he encouraged everyone around him to tow the line of Christ. He was tested and trusted in his 30 years as leader of the church and 50 years in public glare.”