YOU have travelled to many countries to minister. How would you compare the mode of worship to what obtains in Nigeria?
Yes, I travel a lot. Every country is peculiar. The mode of worship is different. For example, in Nigeria, because of our economic circumstances, I believe we have a need-based ministry. People want you to put more attention on ‘Pray for me to get money;’ ‘pray for me so that my landlord won’t send me out,’ and so on. But the needs of human beings are the same. People need a saviour; they need assurance of salvation. They need assurance that their sins are forgiven; they need assurance that there is a greater being that loves them. So, the basic needs are everywhere but because of our economic situation, it looks as if the preaching of this gospel in this continent is more needs-based.
Your ministry is basically on love, marriage and building godly homes. Is that what God told you to focus on?
Well, it is part of the things I do. I am a motivated preacher, but I also believe that one of the things that a preacher should be is a light in the darkness and a voice in the wilderness. Also, one of the greatest darkness we have in our generation and nation, and even in several congregations, is the issue of marriage. And I normally say, unfortunately, there is no institution where marriage is taught. Marriage is the only institution where they give you a certificate before you start learning. So, maybe we should have learnt about good marriages from our parents, but unfortunately many parents don’t have good marriages. So, it takes revelation to make marriage work; that is why my wife and I devote ourselves to do a lot of teaching on that. My last book entitled MARRYmatics is one the best sellers in this country and right now because it addresses the formula for marrying right.
What is your take on the state of security in Nigeria?
Nigeria has made all of us some kind of government. For example, in my house, we provide our own security, water, and most of the time, we provide our own electricity and that is what the government should do. So, when we provide all these ourselves and the government says we should pay tax, we honour them because the Bible says so. Government should protect its people. Herdsmen are doing their business; farmers are doing their business. One should not affect the other. If there is no hidden agenda on the part of the government, then there should not be a problem. The government should embrace its responsibility, because nobody is allowed to carry ammunition anyhow. So, it is the government that we should put the blame on, because the government can put a stop to it if they want to. When they decided to tackle Boko Haram, they did quite a lot, and if they decide to tackle the herdsmen situation, then they can.
What is your message to politicians and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)?
I keep on telling people to get their Permanent Voter Cards; that is what it takes. Bad politicians are bad people that good people elect into office by not voting. They say politics is dirty. There is no game that is dirty; it is the players that make it dirty. When the players are clean, the game is clean, and once the players know that clean people are playing, then they will change. I keep on telling people to get their PVCs. That is the most important thing. In the next 10 years, 70 per cent of our population will be under 30 years old. The young people have the power in their hands to dictate where this country should go, and the first thing they should do is to get their PVCs.
As we approach the 2019 general election, do you think President Muhammadu Buhari should seek re-election?
You know it is stupid to say a one-eyed man should not lead, when everybody that is trying to get to that position is blind. So, let us first keep our hands crossed; people are speaking too early. Let’s see the group of people that want to contest. It will be very sad if, at his age, and his level of performance, he is the best we can offer. However, it will be very exciting if we have other people who are better, but what we are saying is let’s wait to see who will be contesting with him before we start to say he should or not. It will be sad if we don’t have better people. However, if we have worse people than him, it will be stupid to say he should not.
You just concluded your Victory Encounter programme. What was it about?
I believe strongly that the greatest celebration of Christianity is Easter and everybody needs to celebrate Easter. What that means is that we owe a debt of sin we could not pay and somebody came to pay the debt he did not owe. We normally say His death is the beginning of our living, so we need to celebrate His death. And His death gave us major deliverance – deliverance from sin; deliverance from attack from the devil,; deliverance from untimely death, and from so many things. At the Victory Encounter programme, we prayed for people and we enlightened them on the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Brief about background
My growing up years were very interesting. I am the third of four boys and almost everybody in my family is a pastor. I grew up in Ibadan. I had my primary and secondary education in Ibadan, before I proceeded to the University of Ibadan for my tertiary education. I’ve lived in Ibadan almost all my life. I had good upbringing and wonderful parents; they were not rich in worldly terms, but they are very devoted to one another and also devoted to their children. They are also devoted to the principle of God. So, I am very grateful for my upbringing.
You said you were brought up in a Christian home, which probably influenced your decision to become a pastor. How exactly did you receive your calling?
I received my call when I was young. That was while I was at the University of Ibadan. I believe I heard the voice of God saying to me that He has empowered me to reach out to the nation and transform lives to the point of absolute victory in life through the preaching, teaching and demonstration of the word of faith. That was in November 1994. You know such a date, you don’t forget, but it was a struggle. I had my plans, but I discovered that day that my plans were not necessarily the plans of God.
What is your advice to Christians during this Easter season?
We call ourselves Christians, which means we are of Christ and Christ should be seen in us. The God we serve is a great God. He is a God of power, and the God of love. Many of us, when we don’t know whom we serve, we don’t represent Him well. I’ll advise them to know the God they serve.
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