I was once homeless, my husband spent days on hospital bed —Esther Ajayi

Reverend Mother Esther Ajayi was in New York, United States, to support the new president of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Professor Tijjani Mohammed-Bande. In this interview with LEON USIGBE, she speaks on her mission, controversy over the purchase of a private jet, among other issues.

 

You have become famous with your philanthropy across denominations. How did you come about this?

It is a mission to change the narrative of the society which is becoming so self-centred. Virtually everyone is concerned about themselves alone. A change starts when we change. If you cannot change, nothing will change. I think it is just surprising to people that there can be a human being like me and I want to thank God for that. The Bible says: “Nobody can get anything if he is not given from above.” I can’t have this if God did not give it to me. Everything lies in our hands and it depends on how you want to listen to your creator. The secret is do good and act against evil.

 

What makes you comfortable in extending your philanthropic gestures to the church rather than engaging in business?

I have once been homeless, especially in the United Kingdom where I had no one. I became homeless and my husband was on hospital bed. It was a serious challenge for me, but the creator of the universe saw me through and I promised myself to support any human or church, especially under the body of Christ, that genuinely needs assistance.

 

You recently visited the United Nations General Assembly, what was your mission?

The UN General Assembly is special to me. This is my first time of attending, though it is the 74th assembly. I went to see the president, Professor Tijjani Mohammed-Bande, whom I always referred to as Baami Bande. I did an event at the UN on May 6, which he attended. Baami Bande was on his feet for over one hour waiting for me, making sure all our people were comfortable. He played a vital role for the success of the event which centred on the harmony of the two major white garment churches; the Cherubim and Seraphim and Celestial Church of Christ at the UN. I prophesied that he would become the president of UNGA and it came to pass. That was why I came to celebrate with him. There have been a lot of negative stories about us. If any of us is doing something positive, we should make noise about it.

 

Your philanthropy has gone beyond Nigeria. Why did you decide to branch out?

It is about the same mission I mentioned earlier. It is part of the promise I made when I was nothing. Because God has been kind to me, I have made up my mind to use the Esther Ajayi Foundation to impact lives positively beyond what anyone could comprehend. I want to see human beings before seeing colour, nation; it is just about human first. God has been merciful to me and people know me as a being before my nationality. So, there should be no disparity.

 

Despite the fact that you are a cleric, you have shouldered the responsibilities of politicians. How would you advise the government and politicians to prioritise the people’s interests?

The efforts of people like us in impacting lives have become a serious challenge to the government and many politicians in the country. It is not magic, it is about the passion and doing the will of God. Many church leaders are doing great job in putting smiles in the faces of many Nigerians who are hopeless. We are trying our best and it is one step at a time. There is still a lot to cover and I pray we will get there.

 

The report about the purchase of a private jet as a cleric has become a controversy. How do you feel about this?

I did not acquire a private jet. It is not true. The rumour came up during my trip to Madagascar. Their former speaker came to my event on May 6 at the United Nations. His sandal attracted me to him and I sought to know his country and when he mentioned Madagascar, I informed him that I was visiting there soon and we exchanged contact. I went there and saw poverty in the land. I even went to a city called Nosy Be after Madagascar. It is like what Abuja is to Nigeria. A plane flies there once a day and once you miss it, you will have to get a private jet. Those that run private jets do so for tourism purpose. So, I got there and for the first time, I was able to hire a private jet. I think my photographs were taken when I disembarked from the jet and it went all over social media that I had acquired a private jet. When the rumour came to my attention, I claimed it and I said to myself that at some point, it is going to happen to use a private jet as equipment for evangelism. To acquire a private jet is not an easy task as it requires a lot of maintenance. However, the truth is that I did not acquire a private jet.

 

You recently relocated from the United Kingdom to Nigeria.

I went to the United Kingdom as a visitor in 2004. The country is a sensitive place and no matter how gigantic you are, if you don’t have the status, I mean, the papers to stay in their country, at some point, it’s going to be a problem. I went there as a poor person and came back rich. I had to come back to retrace my steps. The white believes in proper documentation. So, I want to go back to the United Kingdom as an entrepreneur. That is what I have applied for now. The record has to be clean and straight. If you are a billionaire and they don’t know you as one in their record, it is going to be a problem at some point. It is better not to wait for the problem. As I was travelling around the world, I was doing my prayers at a secret place on October 22, 2017 and the Holy Spirit told me, “Esther, my daughter, move to Nigeria now. I want to use you all over the world.” When I told my husband and children that I had a personal relationship and fellowship with Jesus Christ, they were shocked and supported me. I practically closed down the airport with about 4,000 members of Cherubim and Seraphim and Celestial Church of Christ the first day I got to Nigeria. Everything that has been happening now is an attestation that the Lord actually said I should move. I have been to over 48 cities around the world just in a year and eight months.

 

How did you become homeless in the United Kingdom?

My husband was the only one that was working there and he fell sick and was admitted at the North Middlesex Hospital. The sickness was life-threatened to the extent that his blood was not going into his vein, but his skin. We couldn’t pay our rent because it was just salary. The first month, government paid the rent, same for second and third months. Salary did not come again because we had spent so much on the sickness. They came and changed the lock and threw us out. I am a pastor, I always go back to the Bible. According to the Bible: “In the world, you shall see tribulations, but be of good cheer and conquer the world.”  I have been through a lot of tribulations and I know what it feels. That is why I will always show mercy.