How Tope Alabi’s Ex-Pastor, Ajanaku Died

Ex-spiritual father and pastor of ace gospel singer, Tope Alabi, Prophet Elijah Ola Ajanaku, has died of an undisclosed illness.

The founder and spiritual leader of the Christ Revival Church International located in Baruwa in Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area, Lagos, died at Gbongan, Osun State, southwest Nigeria, on Saturday.
Until his death, the cleric lived at Folarin Williams Close, Ikola Odunsi in Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area.

The corpse of the cleric, our correspondent gathered, was brought into his residence from his home town on Sunday evening.

Ajanaku, known for his flamboyance and elegance, was said to have been sick for almost two months and was taken to his home town for treatment.

This development, P.M NEWS reliably gathered, was the reason he was not present at the church’s anniversary which took place on 18 July.

During the period he was sick members of his church were told that he had travelled abroad to rest.
While on a visit to the church on Sunday, the majority of the members were yet to believe that their spiritual leader had died.

Many argued that he could not have died, insisting that he travelled abroad to rest due to his hectic schedules.

Some of the church members were hostile to our correspondent who visited the church to confirm this report..

While at his residence this morning, our correspondent was told that the remains of the late Pastor Ajanaku were about to be taken to the mortuary.

A member of the congregation was seen directing another member to arrange for security personnel  to accompany the corpse to the mortuary.

As at the time our correspondent left the premises this morning, church members who trooped to the home of the man they called ‘Daddy’, were directed to report at the church at Baruwa while the top leaders of the church were planning to take the corpse to the mortuary.

The late Ajanaku rose to fame when he became the spiritual father of popular gospel singer, Tope Alabi.
However, they split a few months before his death, with Ajanaku accusing the singer of seeking to have sex with him.

As a mark of respect, the gospel singer was one of the earliest callers at the residence of the deceased on Sunday.

The late cleric left behind an aged mother, two children: a boy and a girl; and a wife.

Meanwhile, a neighbour of the Prophet, Rita Ade, told P.M. NEWS that his followers believe he would come back to life.

As a result, several prayer sessions have been held since he died.

“He died since Saturday, but the church members have decided to keep sealed lips.Instead, they have engaged in marathon prayer sessions. They held a vigil on Saturday where they prayed fervently for him to resurrect, but nothing happened.

“The church members were shouting: ‘Prophet Ajanaku, wake up’ throughout Saturday night,” Mrs. Ade said.

According to sources close to Ajanaku, the late pastor was not seen in public for nearly a month following an issue he had with security agents few weeks after he engaged gospel singer, Tope Alabi, in an embarrassing fight.

“He was arrested weeks ago by security operatives and we learnt he was in detention. We were shocked to see his corpse on Sunday night,” a source, who refused to be named told P.M.NEWS this morning.

Though it is not too known what caused the quarrel he had with Tope Alabi, the pastor had publicly declared that the musician had constantly pestered him for sex saying his refusal had resulted in the fight they had.

Tope Alabi’s husband responded to the allegation thus: “this trouble started when we stopped attending Prophet Ajanaku’s church because he was beginning to see himself as a god in our lives.

“All he has said to the media are bunch of lies, just to look for a way to bring us down. I know there is a God in heaven who will judge everything we do on earth and reward all of us accordingly.

“I intentionally told my wife not to say anything and leave God to judge everything but I am using this medium to tell everyone out there that Tope Alabi never asked Prophet Ajanaku to sleep with her.”

The late Ajanaku, from a Muslim background, said he converted to Christianity when he arrived Lagos.
His profile on his church website says he was denied basic educational access in all forms-primary, secondary and university education.

“Illiteracy was a big title for him because of his chronic state. He understood and could communicate in Yoruba language only.” He later attended the Winners Church Bible school.

 P.M NEWS