ARCHDEACON of Sagamu East Archdeaconry (Anglican Communion), Venerable Matthew Fiade has bemoaned people’s penchant to telling lies to commit “embarrassing” crimes.
From workplaces to worship centres and virtually everywhere, Fiade described as baffling the fact that people easily subscribe to telling lies to outwit others, rob others and circumvent established systems.
Contained in his sermon at the 6th Remembrance and Patronal Anniversary of Chief Dr (Mrs) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo at HID Awolowo Anglican Church, Sagamu, Ogun State, on Sunday, Fiade said it was more baffling when people who call themselves believers are swift to lying at any given opportunity.
He cautioned against defending lies under any guise, bemoaning that people no more consider the rampant falsification of age in private and public workplaces as sin.
Especially, the clergyman decried that the mobile phone had become a tool people use to tell lies spontaneously.
Wrapping up his sermon, Fiade enjoined believers to shun telling lies, double standards and seek repentance so as to attain heaven at the end of their lives.
“You cannot claim to be a part of heaven and you are part of this world. There are double standards everywhere. A core Christian here at HID church, Sagamu, receives a phone call and because the person who has made that call is not here, begins to tell lies saying she is in Lagos and will soon get back.
“What about what you do in your places of work? People commit embarrassing crimes just because of what they want to eat and what they are seeking to become, you are robbing others, you are playing a foul game.
“Many Christians, these days, do not even see that it is a sin to falsify age. Some say this is an official age because they want to stay longer at their places of work. Lies are lies; they do not have another name.
“What makes you a believer is not proclamation of being born again, what makes you a believer, in the real sense of it, is the possession of the Holy Spirit.
“The moment rapture takes place, there won’t be opportunities for repentance anymore. The opportunity we have now is that we are alive. So, before that D-day, do the needful, let heaven know that you are part of heaven.”
Talking on the life and times of HID Awolowo, Venerable Fiade praised the matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty for remaining active in contributing and intervening in the political affairs of this country until her death.
Fiade further noted HID Awolowo’s relentless efforts at resolving the dispute between the leadership of the Yoruba sociopolitical group, Afenifere and commitment to emergence of a better political leadership.
He also praised HID Awolowo’s efficient combination of being both a successful businesswoman and an astute politician. Giving her remarks, daughter of Chief Obafemi and HID Awolowo, Dr Tokunbo Awolowo Dosumu celebrated the fact that her mother left behind a fantastic legacy.
Mama Awolowo, she added, was diligent and hard-working whether at the home front, political front or the church front and lived a life in accordance with God’s mandate. “Mama has left a fantastic legacy for us. She built the HID Awolowo Church from the proceeds of her hosting of the synod in 2011 and anyone who knows this family knows how difficult it must have been for her to go on to host that synod that year but she did because of her Christian altitude.
“She really worked so hard- at the home front, political front, at the church front. She did everything that was said by God on earth to do. We cannot celebrate her enough. We thank God for this goodly heritage,” Awolowo Dosumu said.
The event had in attendance dignitaries such as the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe; Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Adewale Shotobi; Alakenne of Ikenne, Adeyinka Onakade; deputy leader of Afenifere, Oba Oladipo Olaitan; Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede; Professor Segun Gbadegesin; Mogaji Gboyega Adejumo; Chief Kesington Adebutu; Professor A.B.O.O Oyediran; Chief Reuben Fasoranti; Remo Growth and Development Foundation.
Other personalities that graced the occasion included Giwa BisiRodipe; Dr Janet Fashakin; Mrs Bola Osibodu; Femi Ogunsanya; Mrs Doyin Oredeyin; Akogun Kola Onadipe; Chief Comfort Olutunda; Mrs Bola Awolowo; Dr Jayne Soboiki; Mrs Ladi Soyode; Mrs Olukemi Aderemi; Ayotola Ayodeji; Mr Iranola Ayodeji; Otunba Deji Osibogun; Mrs Mercy Owolana; Professor Akin Osibogun; Professor Idowu Olayinka; Professor Segun Gbadegesin; Yemisi Subair; Yinka Ogunde; Kayode Samuel.
Also in attendance included Dr Kunle Olajide; Bola Osibodu; Ebenezer Sonaiya; Chief Herbert Odionye; Dr Segun Olagunji; Mrs Comfort Olabiran; Bimbo Ashiru; Femi Longe; Otunba Bode Oseni; Professor Akin Osibogun; Chief Mrs Mercy Owolana; Engineer Jide Adeniji; Otunba Adeleke Adesina; Kole Omololu; Prince Tokunbo Sijuwade; Dr Ebun Sonaiya; Yoruba Unity Forum in Italy.
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and then