President Muhammadu Buhari has sent a condolence message to the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria over the passing of the former General Overseer, Rev. Wilson Badejo, aged 74.
He noted that the deceased was ”committed to standing in the gap for not just his organization, but Nigeria as a whole.”
Buhari prayed that God would comfort the entire Badejo family.
He urged the family to take solace in the fact that their father, a veterinary doctor, author, cleric, and public speaker, set a standard to be emulated by all and sundry.
Badejo’s death was announced by Secretary of the Church, Rev. Yomi Oyinloye, saying he had served as the General Overseer between 1999 and 2009, and died on Saturday in the course of a brief illness.
Oyinloye said “He was a great achiever, an accomplished servant of God, a role model, a bridge builder, mentor, teacher par excellence, an apostle and respected family man.
“Dr Badejo served the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria in several ministerial capacities, crowning his stewardship at the apex as the General Overseer of the Church from 1999 for 2009.
“He was a man of many parts who was able to unlock socio-cultural gateways, and in the process successfully endeared several friends and loved ones from all walks of life across the divide,” the church said.
Oyinloye said the Church was greatly saddened by the loss but encouraged members to take solace in the fact that the late G.O lived a fulfilling, God-fearing and impactful life.
According to him, Badejo left behind an indelible mark in the heart of everyone who came his way.
Oyinloye called for prayers for the family of the deceased and the Foursquare Gospel Church in this trying time.
Meanwhile, President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke, described Badejo as a forthright individual who served God with all his might.
In a condolence message from his media office, the PFN president described the news of Badejo’s death as shocking to the nation and the world, particularly to the Christian community.
According to Bishop Oke, Badejo gave his all to the service of the Lord while alive, a development he added, enhanced the spread of the gospel to nations of the world.