On Friday 27th August 2021, late Primate Emmanuel Omolaja Aremu Olorunwo turned 85. He wanted a low-key birthday. Papa is not one for big parties. But his family members wanted to mark it, as they normally do annually. Also, his children converged at his Gbagada home to celebrate Baba (that is what they call him). They had invited the wave-making gospel singer, Adeyinka Aleseyori, to sing for Papa and his wife. It was a joyous event. And on Sunday 29th August 2021, Papa had a Thanksgiving Service at his church. It was well attended. It was 4 days after, that Papa passed on. It was a short statement from the Olorunwo Family that broke the news. It reads: Primate Omolaja Olorunwo is dead. He passed on to Glory today at 1 pm.” That was on Thursday 2nd September 2021.
For those who don’t know him, let’s 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 at Ifako, Gbagada which clocked 51 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 predicted correctly. What has endeared him to many people was because his predictions were always on point. And he also had strong prophetic powers. This respected Owu man from Abeokuta was the 1st Ba’Adua of Owu and 1st Ba’Adua of Egbaland, honoured in November 2006. He was quite close to a lot of prominent Owu sons and daughters like Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr. Onaolapo Soleye, ex-Gov. Ibikunle Amosun, Prince Bola Ajibola, Olowu Oba Adegboyega Sanya Dosumu and 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 Compound, 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 around 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 a 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 of Technology 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. 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 7-day prayer from Olorunkole Mountain in Ibadan. He was undaunted and later moved to another site at 146, Clifford Street, Alagomeji, Yaba in 1968.
After this feat, he was ordained an Apostle in 1970, he became a Senior Apostle in 1975, a Most Senior Apostle in 1976 and ultimately 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, in Lagos, 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 of November 1983.
The occasion was chaired by late Bashorun M.K.O Abiola with Late Dele Giwa, his editor. 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 C.O.S Benson on behalf of the United C & S Council. The Primate was married to Rev. Mother K. B. Olorunwo and blessed with children and grandchildren.
Baba had 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. The 10 member committee held the meeting for six (6) months during which the tension in Owu Land considerably abated. Indeed, the success of the 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 of Trustee: Bible College and Secondary Schools., The name of the Lord is a sure tower the righteous run into it and he is safe.
-SEYE KEHINDE
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