Sermons in many churches in Akoko area of Ondo state were full of tributes and encomiums on the late pastor Temitope Joshua of the Synagogue Church of Nation for his selfless services, charitable and peace loving attitudes to humanity.
Pastor Gabriel Agbaje of Oluwadamilare CAC Church, Okeagbe acknowledged his assistance to many who got visa to travel outside the country through the deseased.
Also, Bishop Michael Abe of the Zion church, Ishakunmi described late Pastor Joshua’s annual distribution of foodstuffs to the needy and elderly people as unprecedented in the history of charity giving.
The monarch of Arigidi Akoko whose palace had been bombarded by sypanthisers said he had lost a pillar and a counselor.
The zaki of Arigidi Akoko oba Yisa olanipekun called on people to emulate the selfless attitudes of late pastor Temitope Joshua to life and humanity.
The Chief Imam of Arigidi, Sheikh Jimoh Balogun noted that the late cleric was his benefactor who did not discriminate on the basis of tribe, age and religion in charitable works.
Meanwhile people of Arigidi were seen in groups discussing whether the death of the great phillantropist was true or mere rumour.
A woman simply called Munirat said the man who usually give out charity to her aged mother is gone and lamented on how to get substitute.
“The last time he came home about eight months ago, he counseled his people not to call anyone a visitor, noting that all of us are visitors on earth.
He preached love at that forum, urging people to forgive each other because that was the only way we could be forgiven by Almighty God”.
The Cleric had embarked on multi million naira projects including an aero-drome, a proposed University, Church Terbarnacle etc in Arigidi Oke-Agbe Road where several kilometres of land space had been acquired.
He bought patrol vehicles for army and police to enhance security in Akoko land while many people’s houses had been reroofed after rainstorm.
Pastor Temitope Joshua Balogun was born in about 57years ago to the family of Balogun in Imo- Arigidi Akoko, while his late mother, Alhaja Munirat Balogun was a sister to the father of the present chief Imam of Agbaluku, Alhaji Salisu Musa.
He went to AUD Grammar School, Ikare Akoko before proceeding to Lagos in the 70s.
