Pastor John Olushola Ojo of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Odi-Ajaye, Lagos, and the lead visioner, Victorious Garden Ministry, speaks on religious and national issues with BOLA BADMUS and SEGUN KASALI.
as a church leader, how would you describe the impact of general overseers on their congregation?
A thriving congregation is as a result of the overseer. A lot of congregations are being deceived by some pastors because of what they receive from them. Many of these pastors are wicked and engage in fraudulent activities. More often than not, congregations have accepted what they ought not to. The acceptance might have been necessitated by the general perception of spiritual leaders, which isn’t so in all cases. What they have accepted is extremely different from what the Almighty has stipulated. Read Jeremiah 16 and 17. This is just to show that I am not reeling off what I have been saying from my own thinking, but from what God has stated in the Holy Book. ‘Sweet’ sermons are the instruments used by some pastors to woo the congregation. They always want to hide from the truth. Some pastors contributed to destroying this country; this is because they are all out for their benefit. The Bible says the words of prosperity and sweetness are being used to destroy the people of God. Some are there to enrich themselves without improving the economic status of the congregation. Hebrew 13 verse 16 says it all. God can never leave his people in penury. Whoever pleases God has got himself covered for life. So, they care less about the most important things that the congregation needs to be aware of. What to ‘eat’ now has barred them from attaining the glorious future earmarked for them. Some pastors have been carried away by frivolities. Some pastors, who are ‘new’ in the ministry want to drive luxury cars and want to live in mansions and all that, that is bad.
How would you assess Nigeria’s current state?
As an elder and as a servant of God, the country needs a lot of prayers in the direction it is going. Yes, I solemnly believe that we need prayers. However, we also need something that is more powerful than prayers. A lot of people are advocating that we must pray to move this country forward. However, I strongly believe that the country needs more than prayers. Please, don’t get me wrong. In Nigeria, what we need mostly is the true word of God.
Having critically assessed prayers and the word of God, I discovered that prayers cover just 25 per cent, while the word of God takes about 75 per cent. Nigeria needs the understanding of the true word of God. What God wants has been stated categorically in the Holy Bible and Holy Quran. We cannot neglect the doctrines stipulated by God in the Holy Books and expect the country to thrive. However, prayer is what everyone advocates. Criminal activities have become the order of the day. We have pastors who have allowed sins into their lives. They have allowed cheating, fraud, murder and character assassination. Prayers from these set of people can never come to fruition because they have allowed iniquities in their lives.
You have said even pastors are not spared from criminal activities. What ways can this be addressed?
Most of these pastors that claim to be servants of God are servants of satan. My point is not far-fetched. I said that because if these so-called pastors preached the truth in their various churches, I am so sure that there would have been turnaround in the country. The Bible clearly states that we cannot be in iniquity and expect the abundant blessings of God.
How would you assess the role of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the country’s development?
Once upon a time, I was the leader of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Ifako-Ijaiye. I succeeded one Adeleke, who owns Crusader Road. I was in office for four years and eight months. Thereafter, at the expiration of my tenure, they still wanted me to retain that position. Even those from America, London and Chicago advocated the combination of my duties and responsibilities as a pastor, while still superintending the affairs of CAN. However, I pleaded to leave the office so that others could take up the mantle of leadership.
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As the leader at the time, I got invitations from many churches to preach at their various anniversary services. However, most of these pastors turned their backs against me, because most of them referred to themselves as the founders of their churches. I always cut off ties with such churches. That is the beginning of arrogance. Nobody is a founder of a church but God. Making reference to that status “founder” implies that you can do whatever you like. Most of these churches sing biblical hymns without the inclusion of the name of God.
Many people have reacted to reports on President Muhammadu Buhari seeking reelection in 2019. Do you think he should run for office?
As a servant of God, who was among those who witnessed the country’s independence in 1960, one is old enough to know much about Nigeria. Unless Buhari wants to rubbish his efforts, he can continue to disturb himself with the 2019 elections. This is because there is no good person around him to deliver same mandate with him; those around are not like him. He should think deeply before he ventures into the 2019 contest. He should go home and rest in order not to put himself in a state of disrepute. He is an old man already; he is 74 now. I am older than him. In leadership, it is important to have those who share the same vision and mission with you, so as to promote team spirit, but the reverse is the case in Buhari’s administration and hence, I advise him not to contest.
Nigeria is plagued by many challenges. Having witnessed its independence, would you say the country can return to her glory days?
Honestly, the world has witnessed tremendous change. What is obtainable in advanced countries is different from what it is in Nigeria. Obtaining documents over there has to follow due process, but the reverse is the case in Nigeria. Recalling my experience as a child in Ilesa, goods were bought without the sellers not necessarily available and there was peaceful coexistence and cooperation. Goods were paid for and change collected without the physical presence of the sellers. Nowadays, such attitudinal disposition no longer exists. Can we experience such again? Even those who stand guard over their trade, still witness disappearance of their goods. I am afraid. Our God is powerful, but if we continue to tread this unworthy path where there is no respect and regard, there is real danger.
We live in a country where everybody does whatever he feels like. People want to live above their means. I even heard that some workers are yet to collect 28th month salary. This is against what the Bible says in Jeremiah. This is alarming. Even if it’s three or five months salary arrears, how do we expect the workers to sustain themselves? I don’t understand.
and then