•Talks About His 2023 PRAISE UNLIMITED Festival
Sunday 19th of February, 2023 was a memorable one for the people of Oke-Ona, Egbaland. Oba Dr. Adedapo Tejuoso CON FWACP Karunwi 111, Oranmiyan Osile Oke-Ona, Egba celebrated his 85th birthday at OOPL and he celebrated the 6th edition of Praise Unlimited, an Annual Festival of Praise bringing the African Church together to His Altar in Praise and Worship.
Many dignitaries graced the event. They are: His Eminence Julius Olayinka Osayande Abbe, The Primate of The African Church Worldwide, Rev. Most Peter Ayodeji Ogunmuyiwa, the Host Bishop, the Bishop of Egba Diocese of African Church, the Right Rev. K.E Olaniyi, the Right Rev. Akin Falana, the Diocessan of Ifako Diocesse, the Right Rev. B.O. Akinremi, the Lord Bishop of Akure Diocess and Mrs. Akinremi, Admin to the Office of the Prime Minister Mr. Olusola, Rev. S. Opeyemi, Rev. Dr. and Professor Mrs. Adeyemo, Baba Ijo of Cathedral Saint Dave Senator Olanrewaju Adeyemi Tejuoso, the Iyalode General of Oke-Ona Egba and she is the Iya Ijo of Saint Davs Cathedral and the wife of ex-President of Nigeria, Mrs. Oluremi Obasanjo, the church member of The African Church and the Pastor, Families, Children and Grand Children were there to celebrate the King.
The invited guest artistes were Evang. Ebenezer Obey, Senwele Jesu, Harmonious Voices, Erujeje, Pastor Kunle Ajayi, Elijah Akintunde, Aduke Gold, Akinkunmi Jiboku. Mr. Akinkunmi Jiboku was the first artist that performed after the singing of Hymn by the Harmonious voices, and the performance was superb. Evang. Ebenezer Obey came in with his band and it was a wonderful moment because Oba Adedapo Tejuoso danced with full joy and happiness together with his 3 Queens, Children and grand children. Several pictures were taken as many people and Chiefs were coming in to greet the king.
The great Saxophonist from The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Kunle Ajayi had his own portion of Praise and Worship, to lift the people’s spirit with joy. Then came Elijah Akintunde who is known as Voice of Elijah or Olorun Kosobee the Nigerian Gospel Singer and a performing artiste had his own portion of praise as well.
Senwele Jesu whose real name is Bukola Akinade had her portion of praise which almost pulled down the roof. Everybody danced to the fullest while the King called Elijah Akintunde came back on stage to sing the popular song Olorun Kosobee.
Thereafter, the Chairman of Club 38 Limited presented a gift to the King. He explained that, it is done every 5 years. Aduke Gold sang praises to the glory of God and everywhere was filled with the presence of God. An unforgetable scene happened when Aduke Gold was singing Oba (Dr.) Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo CFR, D.Sc Okukenu IV Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba (Dr.) Saburee Babajide Isola Bakere Jamolu II, Agura of Gbagura, and Alayeluwa Oba (Prof) Saka Adelola Matemilola, FNSE Oluyalo Otileta VII Olowu of Owu Kingdom entered the auditorium and Oba Adedapo Tejuoso said the dance floor should be left for them to dance and the 4 kings danced together. Afterwards, they had brief prayer and brief discussion as well.
Oba Adedapo Tejuoso spoke during the programme when the African Church of Ogun Diocesse gave him a gift for this birthday. He said they have been celebrating the Praise Unlimited for 6 years and this is the 6th edition of it. He said it started when he clocked 80 years old and since then it has been celebrated annually alongside his birthday. He said at the time they started it, Mr. Akinkunmi Jiboku was the visioner. “God told him that I should be celebrating the Praise Unlimited with my coronation. But what about my birthday? And God told him, specifically, that the Praise Unlimited should be started in inconjunction with the African Church”.
“But, I am not happy that the African Church is not playing their part in this. It is not Oba Tejuoso alone. It is God’s injunction that it should be between African Church and Praise Unlimited. As at the time the message came through Akin, The African Church was not in one piece. They were not together. But, I think God, He sent us that message because of this”.
“Primate (His Eminence Julius Olayinka Osayande Abbe) is here. But if African Church is still divided will it still be as great as it is today? No! I did not know that God will use me to solve the problem, I didn’t solve it; but it was God. God solved it for a day like this. I will say maybe the Primate will not show his gratitude to God for making him to be the Primate of a United African Church. I am sorry, am reporting you, but the way African Church is behaving is as if they are not involved. It is Yours, you must be involved in everything at the same time support financially. I want to recommend to you sir, go and read Deuteronomy Chapter 28 verse 46-48. Anything you do for God and you don’t do it cheerfully is a dead work. You must do it cheerfully, even it is one naira, give it cheerfully to God. That’s how God leads me.”
“Pete Pete ta ba Nani popa eni to ba taba ko gbon danu”. This function every year is God’s injunction that it should be done inconjuction with African Church. So my dear Primate carry it, it is your baby. Carry the baby with all your heart. I am not talking to you as a Primate, but I am talking everybody through you sir. I am not a Pastor, not a Priest, but the spirit of the Lord asked me to speak in this tone. I am sorry if I stepped on someone’s toe. I thank you all for this gift, I don’t know how much this has cost you but I would have appreciated it more if it was contributed toward this function.”
“God will have appreciated it more. It is not about me but God. I just happen to bring the function together with my birthday but it is only God we want to lift up, thank you all”.
