By Lekan Adejuwon
It was Naira rain on Saturday at the All Souls’ Anglican Church Iyin Ekiti as the local Church was sixty million Naira richer at the end of a Thanksgiving service organized by the church on the occasion of the 60th birthday anniversary of Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele.
The sixty million Naira largese symbolically represented the 60th birthday age of the celebrant.
This was, as the Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District on behalf of his family and friends, raised a whopping 60million Naira for the local church and other Anglican churches across Ekiti Central District.
The lawmaker and his wife set the ball rolling with a donation of 10million naira to the church.
It was the turn of his four siblings whom the Senator announced a donation of 10million Naira to the church on their behalf.
In a similar vein, the lawmaker summoned two of his American based friends Mr Lekan Ajisafe an aviation expert from Ijero and Engr. Dipo Bamisaye from Ise Ekiti. Both made an initial donation of N30m to the fund raising while the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji made a personal donation of N5m.
But in a new twist, the additional N5m was added to the figure to make the N60M target by the Senatoor’s friends.
Bamidele also announced that half of the money should be retained by his local church while the remaining half should be given to all Anglican churches in Ekiti Central.
The senator had earlier expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the church for singlehandedly organizing the befitting thanksgiving service and show of love by the people who turned out in large number to celebrate him when he is still alive.
Bamidele, who came to the church service a little bit behind schedule apologized to the congregation noting that the church service was not originally part of the birthday plan after the 24 hour marathon praise and worship session earlier held in Ado since on Friday
Dignitaries at the thanksgiving service included the Governor of Ekiti State Biodun Oyebanji, traditional rulers led by Oba Adeola Ajakaye, the Ajero Oba Adewole and a host of others
