In remembrance of his father, who died 25 years ago, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Bode Obanla, has begun the construction of a #30 Million vicarage at Saint Paul Anglican Church, Auga-Akoko in Akoko Northeast local government area of Ondo State.
The vicarage being constructed by Bode Obanla Foundation (BOF) would serve as the residence of the parish priest and his immediate family. It would also act as both a home and sometimes a workspace for the parish priest, just as it would serve as a venue for community meetings and events.
The Bishop of the Anglican Communion, Akoko Diocese, Reverend Jacob Olajide Bada, said the vicarage would give the Priest the opportunity of saying prayers in the church without ceasing.
According to him, when the vicarage is very close to the church, the Priest would oversee all the affairs of the church. It would enable church members and the people of the community to have access to him Giving the importance of the vicarage to the community, the Bishop said:
“When the people require counselling, when they require prayers, and when they need to seek the face of God, they will call him, and he will walk them to the altar for special prayers. He is like the watchtower of the community.
“When he resides directly within the community, he represents the interest of God in the community. And sees to the affairs of every member of the community, whether they belong to his church or not.” Bishop Bada said the Anglican Church is the number one church in the Akoko area because the church was founded in 1913.
He said: ” We came through Ikakumo-Akoko in 1913, and around 1918 through Oba-Akoko. And I.D. King Leonard, who started schools all over Akoko, came in 1920.
No Akoko person can speak English today who should not be grateful to I.D. King Leonard, who established schools across every town and village in Akoko.
“But if there are new missions in Akoko, the church should work together as one, so that irrespective of denomination, we can help one another to establish different churches for the cohesion and for the gospel to expand in our days. And the church should be one, working together to help one another to establish one another.”
Bishop Bada offered prayers for the Obanla family and commended the Bode Obanla Foundation for supporting the growth and development of the Anglican Church in the area.
The initiator of the project, Bode Obanla, said the project was aimed at immortalising his late father while also giving back to the church and the community that contributed to his upbringing.
According to him, beyond appreciating God for his life and remembering his father, the vicarage project was also a personal act of faith connected to his political aspiration regarding the governorship ambition of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
