At funeral, Anglican bishop charges Nigerians to fear God

The Bishop of Ibadan North Diocese Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Rt. Reverend Bishop Williams Aladekugbe, has enjoined Nigerians to fear God because that they will one day give account of their stewardship on earth to Him.

The Bishop disclosed this, while delivering his sermon during the burial ceremony of the late Mrs. Elizabeth Areola Oke, mother of the National President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Wale Oke, at Kasumu Village, Egbeda local council of Oyo State. She died at the age of 97.

The Bishop said on judgment day, everybody would stand before Christ to give account of their lives, just like the story of Lazarus and the rich man in the Bible.

Using the current global situation as a sign of the end time, Aladekugbe said believers already know that death is not the end of life, but a transition to spend eternity with God and his dear son, Jesus Christ.

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who in his remarks urged the people not to mourn, but to use the occasion to celebrate the virtuous life of the matriarch of Oke family, said: “Even those who don’t know our late mother agreed that mama lived a fulfilled life.” He noted that the deceased was a fruitful woman, who impacted her environment positively.

Commending the former governor of AkwaIbom State, Udom Emmanuel, and others at the event, Makinde said: “On behalf of my elder brother, the immediate past governor of AkwaIbom State, the government and people of Oyo State, I want to congratulate all of us that are witnessing the celebration of a life well spent by mama. My prayer is that all of us will surpass our aged parents.”

Recounting how he left the village in 1973 like a rejected stone that the builders abandoned after receiving Christ, Bishop Oke disclosed that God used different people to help him during his life sojourn.

Oke, who is also the presiding Bishop of Sword of the Spirit Ministries Worldwide, narrated how his mother’s virtues shaped his life and thanked the dignitaries present at the event including former Military Administrator of Ogun and Oyo State, Major General OladayoPopoola; Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who was represented by Ondo State Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Corporative; former Governor of AkwaIbom State, Udom Emmanuel; Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barrister Adebayo Lawal.

Also present were the General Overseer of the Living Faith Church Wordlwide, Bishop David Oyedepo; National President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh; and PFN National Vice President, Archbishop John Praise Daniel, among others.