The African Church Management Committee has announced the suspension of His Eminence, Julius Olayinka Osayande Abbe from the Primate office, citing constitutional breaches.
Primate Abbe’s suspension was communicated during the Church’s press conference addressed by the Acting Lay President, Elder Pius Adebayo Sobambo on Thursday in Lagos.
The conference themed: Setting The Records Straight: Upholding Truth, Constitutionality,And Unity In The African Church’, touched on the ranging crisis within the leadership of the Church.
Giving a clear trajectory of constitutional mechanisms explored to find lasting solutions, which had proved abortive and necessitated a prompt decision on the way forward for the Church.
The Management Committee however, charged Church’s members and the general public to discern truth from propaganda, and to remain guided by facts rather than sentiments.
“Let the record reflect clearly all genuine efforts toward reconciliatio, dialogue and peaceful resolution were made in good faith, but were consistently rebuffed by Primate Abbe and his loyalists.
“Despite the clear injunction gotten and constitutional provisions, he has proceeded with the convening of the said illegal meeting in Calabar.”
According to the Church’s Management Committee, Primate Abbe allegedly committed weighty constitutional violations, which have been communicated to him expressly and in view of which he ceases to be the Church’s Primate till the resolution of all issues in line with constitutional and legal provision.
“ In accordance with Chapter six, sections 134, 1-134.3 of the constitution, Primate was served formal notice of constitutional violations, including:
-Sponsoring ineligible candidates (Section 112.1.(ii))
-Manipulating Conference resolutions (Section 131(viii))
-Avoiding national meetings (Section 131(ix))
-Shutting down the Secretariat without authority (Section 131(ix))
-Issuing threats and intimidation(Sections131(iii)and 131(xii))
-Reversing duly adopted Conference decisions (Sections 131(x) and 131(xii))”.
“Abbe failed to respond within the constitutionally stipulated 48-hour window”.
“In view of the weighty constitutional violations, and in consideration of the pending court case concerning the authenticity of his claimed Master’s Degree.
“The Management Committee, after due deliberation, has invoked Section 134.3 of the 2014 Constitution to initiate appropriate disciplinary measures.
The committee however, temporarily assigned his Primate role to be taken by The Most Rev. Augustine Afolabi Odufuwa.
“This suspension also remains in effect pending the outcome of the case currently before the Federal High Court, Ikoyi.
“In order to prevent a leadership vacuum and to ensure the seamless continuation of both spiritual oversight and administrative governance.
“The Most Rev. Augustine Afolabi Odufuwa is hereby appointed to assume, with immediate effect, the duties and responsibilities of the Office of the Primate in acting capacity.
“He shall so serve until the prevailing issues are conclusively resolved in line with constitutional and legal provisions.”
In a chat with newsmen after the conference, the Immediate Deputy Lay President Prince Debo Oduguwa raised some points of concern on the conduct of the suspended Primate Abbe.
“I am the only qualified aspiring candidate for the Church’s Lay President position by clear provision of and prove of section 112 of our constitution.
“I think it is timely the Primate of the Church Julius Osayande Abbe inspite of his being aware of the orders of injunctions made by the High Court of Ilesha, not to hold the meeting slated for Calabar on the 19th and 20th of this month.
“We understand he is in Calabar now to hold that meeting. You see we don’t want a Primate who has no respect for the rule of law.
“We don’t want a primate who does not believe in the sanctity of our system. We don’t want a Primate who will continue to violate the orders of court.
“One would have thought that a decent man upon being put on notice that there is an order of injunction, restraining him from conducting any meeting in Calabar or elsewhere.
“He would have at least respect the authority of the court and not overreach the decision of the court.
“So, for that reason the management of Church consider his actions as unbecoming of a spiritual head of Church, and decided to put him on suspension pending the convocation of a disciplinary committee that will look into allegations of do many constitutional infractions against him.
“The suspension had just been announced and will be communicated to him and that will bring sanity to the system.”
Also speaking Right Reverend Motolani Olasoji Beckley the newly inaugurated Diocesan Bishop of Lagos Southwest Diocese, cited the required conduct of a leader.
He also reflected on the decision taken by the Church’s Management Committee same day he was inaugurated regarding Primate Abbe.
“I feel so delighted, and at the same time the decisions taken is for the peace and the progress of the African Church Worldwide today, for progress and stability.
“When talking about leadership, a leader must lead by example, in everything we are doing in this world, a leader must be someone that carries everybody along.
“And in a situation like this, the leadership must not take sides, a leader must be someone who is ready to bring lasting solution of peace to the crisis that any community, association, group or Church organisation is facing. “
Also present at the press conference were, Bro.Bayo Ogundimu the General Secretary, The Archbishop Lagos Central Diocese Most Rev.Dr. A .I Dawodu, Bro. Kayode Adegbesan the Immediate Past Gen. Treasurer.
