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Ogunwobi Family Campaign

Object

Leaflet

Production date

1995

Object number

2024.63

Physical Description

Orange A5 leaflet produced by the Down Baptist Church, Hackney, in support of the Ogunwobi family and prevent their deportation.

Material

Paper

Dimension

Height (Front): 21cm
Width (Front): 14cm

On display?

No

Inscription

Ogunwobi Family Campaign
Downs Baptist Church, Downs Road, Hackney, London, E5 8DS
One year on....
Tel: 081-985 2958

It was a year ago that Sunday Ogunwobi made the fateful decision. He was faced with a terrible dilemma. He had been living in Britain legally for 13 years, had married here and his children had been born here. Yet the government was once again telling him to go. Only this time, there were no appeals left.
He talked with friends and others in his church, in the community, and decided that justice was not being done and that the church would be a place where he could obtain protection, understanding and support for his case.
Taking sanctuary has not been easy, one year later the family are still living in Downs Baptist Church, Hackney, East London. The fact that it is the country's longest running family sanctuary is an indicator of the governments obstinacy in refusing to listen to people, to be merciful or compassionate.
Sanctuary is not hiding, Sunday Ogunwobi can be taken at any time. He is clearly seen so that the justice of his case can be established.

The Family
Sunday is a church leader and school governor
Two of he and his wife Bunmi's children Tunde(5) and Deborah(7) need serious medical and educational help practically unavailable in Nigeria and then it has to be paid for.
Sunday has no job or home in Nigeria
The children were born here
Sunday has lived here continuously for more than 13 years

The Support
The campaign has a wide spectrum of sympathy and support: local churches and community groups, more than 90 MP's, members of the House of Lords, trade unions, national church leaders, Hackney Council (all party support) and many individuals. A petition of more than 4000 signatures has been handed to the Home Office.
We challenge this government to show compassion to the Ogunwobi family and others in similar positions and to put an end to the laws which hurt and discriminate against those from other countries. God does not discriminate in His love for people - neither do we and neither should any government.

Do not deprive the alien of justice (Deuteronomy 24:17)
Let the Ogunwobi's stay!