I was taken for dead … —Bishop of Lagos

The Diocesan Bishop of Lagos, Anglican Communion, Right Reverend (Dr) Humphrey Oluwabamisebi Olumakaiye, looks all soft on the outside, but he packs a steely resolve to make impactful change in the society within him. He shared his uncommon life story with SEGUN KASALI, SYLVESTER OKORUWA, and LANRE ADEWOLE.

Were there circumstances surrounding your birth, suggesting that you would turn a minister of God?

I was born January 28, 1969 and, providentially, my dad was a priest in Anglican Communion. He was serving at All Saints Anglican Church, Ogbonkowo, in Ondo town, and God assisted him tremendously in Ondo township. The people loved him; they appreciated his ministry and he mobilised the people in building the present new structure, the edifice at All Saints Anglican Church, Ogbonkowo today, at that time. At the verge of the completion of the church, the bishop there transferred him to Okene then in old Kwara State. Comparing both, Ondo was a centre of civilisation and Okene then was completely a rural area. My Mum, was pregnant, carrying me in her womb at that time. But on the 14th day after leaving Ondo on a transfer, she gave birth to me in Okene. Looking at the circumstances surrounding his transfer from Ondo to Okene and the church at Okene  which was completely dilapidated: No vicarage for him to stay, for someone coming from Ondo where he had just finished building a beautiful edifice, they sat, thanking God for the birth of this young baby boy, and thought of the name to give him. Two of them then decided on the 8th day to name me Oluwabamisebi, which literally means God help me to transform this place, not knowing indirectly that they were naming a covenant child for the ministry. And true to the naming, the place started opening up. My dad built a modern vicarage that is still housing the present bishop of Okene diocese. The church he built at that time is now the present Cathedral Church of Okene after over 40 years.

Were you the first child?

I am the fifth.

And there were no prophesies surrounding your coming?

I suspect my mother must have prayed very well that if God should help us transform this environment, we would dedicate this child completely unto You. Let me tell you another thing. I wouldn’t know if I can still lay my hand on the photograph of my naming ceremony. On my naming day, instead of the normal baby dress, my mother decided to sew a priestly dress for me. That is the truth about it. So, what they wore for me on the day of my naming was like a shirt of the Bishop, with usual ruff at the ankle. That was very prophetic enough on its own.

Where did you eventually have primary and secondary schooling?

Because of different locations of ministers, I started at Okene as a young lad and from there to Emmanuel Anglican School in Lokoja, then completed my primary school education at St. Michael Primary School, Esie in Kwara State. For secondary, I started at Government Secondary School, Omuaran, and when my dad became the provost of St. Barnabas Cathedral, Ilorin, we had to move with him and I completed my secondary school in Ilorin.

Greatest influence?

I would say my dad and my mum, because by the time I took JAMB in 1986, I came first on the list of those admitted for Political Science at the University of Ilorin. While preparing to resume, Emmanuel College of Theology in Ibadan started a degree programme. My dad called me and said look, I have been watching you, why can’t you go for theological education since you have all these traits of being a minister of God. And because of the high respect I have for my dad, I just decided to yield to his counsel. That was how I jettisoned Political Science and followed the path of the ministry. I bagged diploma in religious studies at Emmanuel College of Theology, proceeded to University of Ibadan, where I bagged B.A in Religious Studies and went back for my Master’s and from there got Ph.D in Philosophy in Church history and Ecclesiastical matters.

Are all your siblings ministers of God?

No.  We are seven to the glory of God. My eldest sister is in Atlanta, USA, followed by my sister, Aret Dapo- Asiwaju a lawyer, the wife of Bishop Theologian of the church of Nigeria. Professor Dapo Asiwaju is the vice chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University till date. Then my own brother is the Oba, Olu of Ifosu, Idanre and another one is working at LASU. Then, the last born is in Georgia, USA. Second to the last is a civil servant in Akure.

Why Political Science despite your calm nature?

The drive to make my own contribution, having a say in the community, despite my calm nature. Right from the school, I may be quiet, but when it comes to approaching issues, you will see another side of me. I may be very quiet but once I handle the microphone, you see another side of me. And people know these about me especially when it comes to fighting for the downtrodden. Even right from my young age, I was fighting for the voiceless. I so much believe that God has given us that grace right from the time I was young.

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How did a calm pastor like you hook his woman?

I met her in the church. This God works in mysterious ways and wonders to perform. I was in Emmanuel College of Theology, and every year, we normally go for mission field which we call College Mission. So, I was posted to Ondo, to the same church where my dad served and built that beautiful edifice. It was during that time I saw her among the choristers and something just struck me that this must be a good candidate from the ministry and could be my partner for the ministry. And we started as friends. Later on to the glory of God, I approached her and we got married and to the glory of God, today, she is a Professor of Nutrition and Consumer Sciences at Obafemi Awolowo University and former head of that department to the glory of God.

Were there pick-up lines used in approaching?

In fact, she almost discouraged me from going into the ministry. Her parents are fully-Anglicans but because of this wave of Pentecostalism, she joined the Redeemed Church. She now said ‘you want to be a priest in the Anglican Church, which is work for elderly people and you will now be wearing this gown around’ (laughs). She is used to suits, ties and so on.  She said she was not interested in priesthood and that if I am ready to marry her, I must jettison that vocation. And I told her- ‘look! I wouldn’t. I am ready to let you go if that will make me to jettison my calling’. And she told me later on that that statement broke her down and she wept that if this man can decide to let her go because of his own calling, he must be a genuine child of God. Today, she’s thanking God that she eventually walked that path.

Looking at your children, is there anyone you could is taking your footsteps?

Fortunately, I just have one son and he has just graduated from the university. Anytime from now, he will be going for his Master’s in Biotechnology. He is also cool, calm, collected with extremely fear of God and a very disciplined child. I don’t know what God can say tomorrow, but he’s not actually thinking of coming into the ministry.

If you had chosen to disobey your dad, what would you have desired to be?

I don’t think I have ever given that a thought in my life because I am so fortunate that at the age of 18, I was already in the ministry. So, the ministry is part and parcel of me. So, I have no opportunity of even looking elsewhere or thinking I would choose another thing. I don’t think so.

What are the things that just come to you naturally?

Naturally, I have that ability to be a builder. In Ayegbaju, I built a whole village with about 16 to 17 structures within nine years. The same thing in Ijebu- Ijesha. We have a diocesan there bigger than this place within one year. I built a vicarage in Cappa, Ilesa within eight months and so on. I can go on counting. So, I have that grace of Midas’ touch because whatever I touch will turn around. It is just for me to visualise it. I will see it coming into existence. And by the special grace of God, we are thinking of our convention centre now that will be able to take 30 to 50,000 people. We just resumed last month, but I am assuring you that by the time you come back here you will confirm what I have just said. That is just a special grace and gift from God.

Share with us, your indulgence in light moments.

I love playing badminton. I am very good in that. Then, table tennis. I love that a lot. Then, at the same time, I like reading books- Christian novels and I like cracking jokes. There is no boring moment in our family. (Laughs)

But you look too serious for jokes…

Exactly, but when I am with my people- my family members, you will see another side of me. And even when I am among the priests. We have over 160 priests in the diocese. When you see us relating with one another within these few weeks, you will be surprised, because I believe that when you have joy in your heart you will live long. It is then you can serve God better. So, I am always happy when I am in a joyful environment.

Your marriage must have been made in heaven.

It is a paradise on earth. I am just very fortunate .

So, there are no divergent points, everything just clicking?

You know when you have an encounter with God, everything becomes okay. And it is not everybody that has this kind of opportunity. That is my own study, revelation about God and which is biblical. God will just pick certain people and will decide to favour them. I believe God just decided to favour me. It is just God’s grace and mercy. The first time I set my eyes on my wife, she was 17 years old and we started with friendship till when she was around 21 before I proposed to her. You could just imagine what I am saying. She did not even have the opportunity of seeing the world around or have the opportunity of tasting or mixing with other men.

She was your first and you were her first?

That is correct.  That is the point I am making. I can say that loud and clear to the whole world. She was the first person I would make a toast to and I was the first person to propose to her.

How were the earlier years of knowing each other better?

When the two of you are children of God, it makes it very easier because we see things from the perspective of Jesus Christ. The problem we have when there is misunderstanding is that the two of us can view our brother here from different perspectives.  But if the two of us now view him from the perspective of Christ, it will be the same. So, because we have the opportunity through the Lord Jesus Christ, we pray in the morning, we share the gospel together, we are so intertwined, interconnected and interwoven.

You never had disagreement?

We have had many. But the disagreement has never degenerated into serious quarrel. Many times, we go to the bed at night because we sleep on the same bed and we make sure that the beds are not too wide (laughs).

Is that a piece of advice to intending couples?

Yes, it is o. Don’t make the bed to be too big but make it 6 by 3 (laughs). 6 by 3 is the best. So that when you are angry, your body will touch each other (laughs). And she will say why now, why now and the whole thing will be solved rather than to be on a very big bed where you can wake and still carry on with your quarrel.

Apart from being spiritual, how do you relax with her?

Yes, we normally have fun, especially when we travel out of the country. You know in this country, there is bustle of life, activities, programmes here and there. Like now, she has gone for a programme and tomorrow she will be off to Ife (OAU). But normally at our pleasure time, we travel out of the country, take a walk together; we go to supermarkets together and so on and so forth. At times, we go to crusades together. Even as a bishop, I attend revival programmes and then we use that to relax and refresh. At home, we watch television together. We enjoy watching comedies and laugh together.

Any regrets?

I won’t call it regret . In 1996, shortly after my ordination, I had this terrible, ghastly accident. I was coming from Ilesha to Ibadan on church mission and this accident happened and the vehicle somersaulted. Four people died instantly. I was among the four corpses that the policemen carried on the way to the mortuary. They passed Gbongan, along Ikire, when one of the policemen at the back of the police van: one of the policemen narrated this to me, when he saw my fingers move. And he quickly beckoned on his colleagues that this man, “maybe something can still happen o. Look, his finger is moving” and I was dumped in one of the private hospitals. And the doctor abandoned me, because he did not know where to start from. The whole head had been broken, the jaw had been broken and I was lifeless there. It was on the third day that I was carried back to Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa. Ilesa couldn’t handle me, I was referred to Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital. When they couldn’t manage me, I ended up in LUTH here in Lagos. And to the glory of God, here I am. I would say that is a regret, but it is like taking me through the fire in order to equip me more for the ministry. I would rather say that the accident fired me up. The accident was a sort of catalyst or releasing of power into my life. Today, to the glory of God, when I lay hand on the sick, they receive their healing, lay hand on the downtrodden, they are lifted up. My ministry changed positively after the accident even though the scar (pointing at the huge scar on his head and jaw) is there, but as a sign of the power of God. So, I see everything as a glorification and sign of honour.

Are you worried about the perceived decay in the church?

It is very worrisome. Worrisome in the sense that we have shifted our attention from heavenly-goal gospel to worldly gospel. That is the problem we are having. Every message now is on uncommon favour, higher glory, greater height, divine blessing. It is very difficult to hear messages like hell is real, the wages of sin is death. That is the message- no cross, no crown. Everybody is preaching prosperity nowadays and that is the problem with our church. We are not competing with members on the attire to wear on Sundays but when you see some church, I am not condemning them, they are competing with members. You will see some kind of pastors with different gold, hand chains, leg chains and the most expensive shoes. But you can’t see an Anglican priest wearing such. Like this collar now (touching his) is telling me that I am turning my back to the world and that is why you wear it from the back. Tying it back means that you have turned back against the world. Where you can go now, I can’t. Unlike some other ministers, I dare not go. If you put two or more bottles of red wine on your table, I dare not do that. Now, a minister of God will be having three or four private jets when the members are finding it difficult to eat a square meal, a day. It is what is actually making the church not to grow in holiness.

Do you have a retirement plan?

Retirement is not easy and we are now encouraging the retirees because retirement of the clergy is always very boring. People come to you when you are on the seat but after leaving the seat, they turn their back because they know they have nothing to gain from you again.

We have a retirement plan for all the priests in the diocese, not only me. My predecessor laid down a plan for all of them to have their houses. Many of them are building and some of them have completed theirs. In Lagos, they take loans and they pay back in peanuts. Some take loan without interest or zero-interest. We also have health insurance for all of them even for those that have retired. We have pension and gratuity for them. So, there is no priest, unlike the secular world, where someone will serve for 30 or 40 years without a kobo, that will go with empty hands. In Anglican Church, they retire with handsome sum of money. Some get as pension, more than what they received in active service. This is because at that time (in retirement), nobody will give them brown envelopes (laughs).

You must have memorable moments…

Yes, we have had great moments. Like when I gave birth to my son, I was extremely happy because we had serious delay. It took time but God gave us that precious gift. I am forever thankful to God for that day. And the day I became a bishop. In 2009, the former Primate called me after the election. To become a priest in the Anglican Church is not easy because over 50,000 priests are competing for a limited space. So, when he called me that you have been elected a bishop, tears of joy rolled down my eyes because I am very fortunate becoming a bishop at the age of 40. It is quite unprecedented for a young man and to the glory of God, I am occupying this position as a Bishop here in Lagos at age 49. You could see that it is just a special grace of God despite a lot of eminent people that are far more experienced and have traversed length and breadth of this church.

Do you see the initial storm as part of God’s package?

Yes, He has promised us that everything will work together for those that believe in Him. It has further strengthened and united the diocese, and taken it to another level, spiritually. We just finished the 21-day fasting and prayers. At times, we should see storm in a positive way. So, I see it from that spiritual dimension. God allowed it in order to clear the way for me.

Have you forgiven those behind it?

We cannot see things from the same angle and that makes us to disagree and agree. But when you put Christ at the forefront, we will always agree. I can tell you today that the diocese is better. It has further strengthened us and made us stronger. We are united to the glory of God.