– Primate Omolaja Olorunwo Reveals His Success Story At 80
Last August Lagos Prophet, His Eminence, the most Rev’d Emmanuel Omolaja Aremu Olorunwo turned 80. And it was a big event in Lagos.
For those who don’t know him lets quickly tell you that Primate Olorunwo is not only a popular man of God, he runs a big church called Olorunwo Cathedral Church of Cherubim & Seraphim which clocked 50 recently. He is the primate of the Gbagada based church which has many branches across the world. But he is not just your run of the mill Prophet, he is blessed with uncommon gifts. He is a Seer who sees Vision and he predicts correctly. What has endeared him to many people is because his predictions are always on point. And he also has strong prophetic powers. This respected Owu man from Abeokuta is the 1st Ba’Adua of Owu and 1st Ba’Adua of Egbaland honoured in November 2006. He is quite close to a lot of prominent Owu sons and daughters like Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr. Onaolapo Soleye, Gov. Ibikunle Amosun, Prince Bola Ajibola, Olowu Oba Adegboyega Sanya Dosumu, Chief Doja Adewolu.
City People Magazine visited him last week to have him tell us his story and we found him to be a man with a rich history.
Archbishop, Primate (Dr.) Emmanuel Akinlolu Omolaja Aremu Olorunwo was born on Monday 27th August, 1936 in Yobo, Ifo District Council, Abeokuta South Local Government to Pa Taiwo Atanda Opalola Olorunwo of Fadubi Compund, Owu-Totoro, Abeokuta (Olowu Oduru) and Mrs. A.ldowu Olorunwo (nee Opeagbe) of Igbin Ojo,lgbeyin, Abeokuta (Omosikiti Omo Arogba).
His Eminence, whose divine call into God’s Ministry started as far back as 1946 at the tender age of 10. He had a miraculous encounter with nature in the form of a snake wrapping itself round his right hand while trying to dig for cricket at night near his father’s house, as it was usual for the children of those days. In this scary and frightening circumstance, Prophet Sunday Akintobi, Head of C & S, Agbala Imole, Ifo (Alias Bobanowo Olorun Ha), who was living close to Primate’s compound came out upon being called by the Paternal Grandmother to assist them. The Prophet then prayed for him. After the prayer, the snake disentangled from his wrist and crawled away without inflicting any injury on him. The Prophet thereafter saw a vision and told the gathering that the young Omolaja would become a great Prophet of God in the C & S Church and he was beckoned to join the church immediately. The Prophet also gave prophecies that he was going to be his parent’s only male child. The grandmother later corroborated this prediction that she was told something similar by a soothsayer when Primate’s father was a young man that he would have only one male child who should be properly cared for as the child would be a special Child of Destiny who will do mighty works of healing and through whom God would perform lots of miracles. To confirm this, a particular mark would be on a certain part of his body – However this has been kept secret since then. In submission to the prophecy, he joined the C & S Church in the same year 1946 under the renowned Late Prophet Akintobi. He progressed as a very active member of the C & S Church. Eight years later, he was ordained an Aladura and subsequently elevated to the position of a Leader.
Between 1945 and 1958, he attended African Primary School, Yobo and the Secondary School, Ifo, for his Primary and Secondary Education. He later moved to Lagos to continue his education. He attended Yaba Trade Centre to study Architecture and Yaba College ofTechnology between 1959 and 1965. He was ordained a Prophet in 1963. He started working with Shell Company, Shell Installation Apapa in 1966. He grew in spiritual power and wisdom and was directed by the Holy Spirit to establish a C & S Church (Aladura) which he did on the 26th November, 1966 at 30, Hughes Avenue, Alagomeji, Yaba in one big sitting room. The Church was named Oke-Igbala C & S Church. He was also directed by the Holy Spirit to stop working with Shell Company, Shell Installation Apapa which he did in 1968.
Thereafter, he became a Full Time Prophet of God. Though, he had lots of tribulations as the first Church he erected was pulled down after two years of existence. He was later to find the church on ground after he returned from a seven day prayer from Olorunkole Mountain in Ibadan. He was undaunted and later moved to another site at 146, Clifford Street, Alagomeji, Yaba in 1968. Afterthis feat, he was ordained
in Apostle in 1970, he became a Senior Apostle in 1975, a Most Senior Apostle in 1976 and untimately a Special Apostle in 1979. The church eventually had to vacate the new site at Clifford Street for a swampy area at Abule-Ijesha, Basua Estate, off Fola – Agoro Road. During this time, the Church lost many members due to the incessant relocation of the church from one location to another. However, there are a few steadfast and loyal members who remained with the Church through thick and thin till date. The name of the church was later changed to Olorunwo Cathedral Church of C & S (lnc) in 1970 after a Church General Meeting with Late Gen. Kehinde Sho-Silver. Eventually, the present abode was developed while church activities were held at Fola Agoro, Abule Ijesha, throughout the period of construction. Since then, the church has witnessed an era of stability and progress till it came to the “Promised Land”. The present church was completed through the Grace of God and was dedicated to the Glory of God on the 26th November, 1983. The occasion was chaired by late Bashorun M.K.O Abiola with Late Dele Giwa. The church has grown with branches. On the same day, the founder was enthroned and ordained as Archbishop, Primate, Spiritual Father and Head of the Church by the C & S Council at a most solemn ceremony which was presided over by Most Gen. Superintendent CO.S Benson on behalf of the United C & S Council. The Primate is happily married to Rev. Mother K. B. Olorunwo and blessed with children and grand children.
Baba has served in so many prominent committees, including the Owu Conflict Reconciliation Committee as Chairman set up in Ibogun Olaogun at a well attended meeting by Owu High Chiefs, Owu sons and daughters, with the then president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who is also the Balogun of Owu, in person of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the then Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, alongside the then Secretary of Ogun State Government, Chief Sharafadeen Ishola, and gentle men of the press. The 10 member committee held the meeting for six (6) months during which the tension in Owu Land considerably abated. Indeed, the success ofthe Owu Conflict Reconciliation Committee gave the descendants a soft landing in Owu. Glory be to God. Baba has several awards and honors for his great contributions to the religious growth in Ogun State, Lagos State and Nigeria at large. He was installed as:
Grand Patron of the Christian Faith, 1st Ba’Adua of Owu Kingdom , 1st Ba’Adua of Egba land. Member Board ofTrustee: Bible College and Secondary Schools., The name of the Lord is a sure tower the righteous run into it and he is safe.
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