Isaac Otepola takes over reins of National Command Army of Salvation/Brigade of C&S Unification Church
It was a day of fulfilled destiny for Gen. Isaac Oyelowo Otepola JP, on Saturday, October 10, 2020, as he was sworn-in as the National Commandant of the Army of Salvation Band of the Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria.
It was a culmination of several weeks of hesitation and careful planning – no thanks to the COVID-19 lockdown – for the installation of a new set of officers to paddle the canoe of the ‘military’ arm of the church as it were.
Since he won the election held on Saturday, February 15, 2020, at the Solutions Ministries of C&S Church, at Eleyele, Ibadan, in Oyo State, Gen. Otepola had left no one in doubt as to his dexterity and zest at making the Army of Salvation/Boys Brigade arm of the Church.
So, last Saturday, at the headquarters of the C&S Church of Christ ‘The Worshippers’, not a few people gathered to witness the inauguration of a new dawn in the Army of Salvation/Boys Brigade unit of the church.
Members of the Wing from several states of the federation had started arriving Lagos, from Friday, the day preceding the inauguration to be part of history about to me made. So, as early as 7:30a.m. of that fateful day, the Oke-Olu Street headquarters of the church had started witnessing the gathering of members of the Army of Salvation/Boys Brigade unit as well as the Who is Who in the Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria, and also otrher family and friends of the officers to be inducted.
READ ALSO: https://www.thexpressng.com/2020/10/14/senate-to-investigate-gas-tanker-explosions/
The induction ceremony supervised and performed by no other person than the Secretary General of the Church, Supt. Apostle Tunde Ogunkunle JP, who was assisted by Special Apostle T. J. Odedele, Proxy of the Baba Aladura of C&S Movement Church and the chairman of Lagos State chapter of the Unification, Snr. Supt. Apostle Joseph Adagba JP and his Ogun State counterpart, Supt. Apostle Ogundare JP.
In his sermon at the ceremony which was conducted in strict compliance with the state government’s protocols on COVID-19, the Preacher, Apostle Gbenga Alder, urged the newly-elected executives of the Wing to do everything in their power to continue to give the Church a facelift in carrying out their duties. He also charged them to strive to use their good offices to engender more unity in the Church and not any act of disunity within the entity of Unification.
In his valedictory speech, the former Commandant General of the unit, Gen. Yemi Adebisi, used the occasion to x-ray some of the laudable projects he carried out during his tenure. He harped on the fact that his tenure was able to get representatives from Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Edo states as well as Abuja now gather to discuss matters of common interests in Command.
On his part, Gen. Otepola, in his ebullient self, did not hesitate to announce to the large audience his mission which is, among others, to help the leadership of the C&S Unification Church of Nigeria achieve the needed oneness and unity among all the churches in the fold.
According to Gen. Otepola, “Our Command needs firmness at this moment. In cases where we step on toes in the cause of discharging our duties, we will be there to understand the yearnings of members of our church.” Otepola also promised that his tenure would run an open government as well as expanding the coast of the Command to every part of the country.
Supt. Apostle Ogunkunle, while inaugurating the new Executives of the Army of Salvation/Boys Brigade, also urged them to always carry their members in all parts of the country along and to also join in the building of the Church as it were.
As is customary of them, the even did not end without the Presentation of Flags to the Secretary General who stood as the symbol of the Unification at the ceremony. The flags presentation was interspersed with beautifully synchronised display by the Band part of the unity.
Present at the colourful were several eminent personalities from various units of the Unification. Those in attendance also included the Vice Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Unification, Special Apostle Segun Adio JP, and General Secretary of the state chapter, Evang. (Dr.) Rotimi Odugbesan JP. Other included Capt. Dr. Kehinde Kupoluyi, the Spiritual Head of the Faith in Christ C&S Church, Akesan; Rev. Apostolic Mother Dorcas Ogundji, chairperson of the Lagos State Good Women Congress and her Vice, Supt. Apostolic Mother OpeOluwa Lawal.
Others at the event included Secretary of Good Women Congress of Lagos State chapter, Prophetess Mojisola Farinto, Supt. Apostolic Mother Ronke Coker, Secretary of the National Building Committee of the Unification among several others.
The event also witnessed a former national Commandant of the Army of Salvation Band, Gen. S. B. Omopariola, Gen. Ogunbanwo, who is immediate past Deputy National Commandant of the Wing.
Inducted at the ceremony alongside Isaac Otepola were Gen. Afolabi Kayode Segun as National Vice President 1; Gen. Amao Gabriel, National Vice President II; Gen. Semuge Kenneth, National Vice President III; Maj.-Gen. Oluwafemi Alder as National general Secretary; Lt Gen. Moses Oguntunde, National Treasurer and Col. Emmanuel Oluwafemi Oyekunle as National Financial Secretary.
other were D.O. Collins O. Adesanya, Assistant Gen. Sec. 1; Lt. Col. Opeyemi Deborah Ebun, Assistant Gen. Sec. II; Brig. Gen. Oluwasegun Timothy Ojedokun, Assistant Financial Secretary; Gen. Kehinde Samson Omoniyi, Provost Marshall and Maj gen. Olusegun Samson Akinyemi, who was indicted as National Auditor.
Also, Lt. Gen. Yinka FAtungashe was made Welfare Officer; Maj.Gen. G. F. Hassan Welfare Officer 1; Dep. Brig-gen. John Abiodun Agboola as National PRO; Gen. E. O. Popoola, National PRO II; Capt. Victor Akinpelumi Obayan, Social Secretary and Lt. Gen. Kayode Ololade Social Secretary II.
Some members of the Army of Salvation and Brigade units, found to be worthy of honour, were also appointed to work with the new Executive. They were: Lt. Gen. Oloruntoba Balogun as Chief of Staff to the Commandant; Lt. Gen. Tope Abiola as Chief Protocol & Logistics; Lt. Gen. Gabriel Toluwalase, Brigade Commander; D. O. james Ambrose, Training Officer; Brig. Gen. David Owoeye, Training Officer; Gen. Timothy Toyin Oladokun as Training Officer; Lt. Gen. Michael kehinde Anjorin, Training Officer; Col. Tope Ayodeji, Music Director and Gen. Raphael Abiola Onabolu as Special Adviser on Crisis Intervention.
Others also appointed were Gen. John Olaleye Alade, Special Adviser on Crisis Intervention; Lt. Gen. Tunmise Orimadegun, Special Adviser on Media & Publicity; District Organiser Elijah S. Adebanjo, Special Adviser on Strategic & Event Planning; Gen. Emmanuel Oluwarotimi Oladimeji, Special Adviser on Security & Intelligence; Gen. Michael Olakunle Aguda JP, Special Adviser to the President; Gen. Kayode Oyebolu, Special Adviser to the President; Gen. Gbeminiyi Otepola, Special Adviser to the President and Gen. S. A. Adeniran, Special Adviser on Evangelism.
Others were Maj. Gen. Oluwasegun A. Taiwo, Personal Assistant to the National President (Niger); Brig. Gen.Mary K. Adekola, Personal Assistant to thePresident (Lagos); Brig. Gen. Olufemi Michael Personal Assistant to the President (Oyo); Brig. Gen. Samson Oluwaseyi Adeoye, Personal Assistant to the President (Kwara); Brig. Gen. Samson Temitope Jidonu, Special Adviser to the President (Osun); Brig. Gen. David Fasetire, Aide de Camp to the President; Lt. Gen. Elijah T. Yusuf, Provost; Vol. Peter Pjekunle, Provost; Comd. Akinwaleodun Smart, Provost; Assist. Gen. Comd. Gabriel Oludele Agboola, Provost; Lt. Gen. Kehinde Oremuyiwa, Provost; Capt. Muyiwa Taiwo, Welfare Officer; Capt. Ekundayo Bello Babalola, Welfare Officer and Comd. Sunday Arewa, Welfare Officer.
