Former President Obasanjo was one of those in attendance at the surprise book launch that Pastor Mrs Folu Adeboye threw in honor of her husband yesterday.
When called to give his speech, he said it was the wife of the
General Overseer that invited him, without the knowledge of the husband,
asking that Adeboye should forgive them for this.
General Overseer that invited him, without the knowledge of the husband,
asking that Adeboye should forgive them for this.
Obasanjo said, “I was told not to reveal
my coming here by Mummy (Adeboye’s wife). How can I
my coming here by Mummy (Adeboye’s wife). How can I
come to you without
calling you? But, that was the instruction. Until I am in this hall, I
never see anything about this programme. That means we have committed
sins by keeping this secret from you and we seek for forgiveness from
you and I am sure we have been forgiven.
calling you? But, that was the instruction. Until I am in this hall, I
never see anything about this programme. That means we have committed
sins by keeping this secret from you and we seek for forgiveness from
you and I am sure we have been forgiven.
He also narrated how he consulted Adeboye before accepting to run for President in 1999.
He said after meeting Nelson Mandela and
Desmond Tutu in South Africa, who encouraged him to go ahead, he sought
counsel from Adeboye.
Desmond Tutu in South Africa, who encouraged him to go ahead, he sought
counsel from Adeboye.
He said, “For doing nothing, I was sent
to prison. I came out of prison, and some people came running after me
to contest to be President of Nigeria. I wondered that the one I did
before, what did I get out of it? Prison! And now, you want me to do
another one, that will be double prison.
to prison. I came out of prison, and some people came running after me
to contest to be President of Nigeria. I wondered that the one I did
before, what did I get out of it? Prison! And now, you want me to do
another one, that will be double prison.
“And when you are at crossroads, you
need the direction of God to know which way to follow. I prayed and
fasted and wasn’t satisfied. I decided to go to South Africa to meet
people I had high regard for: Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. Mandela
said I should follow my instinct. Tutu said I should not be tired of
serving my people.
need the direction of God to know which way to follow. I prayed and
fasted and wasn’t satisfied. I decided to go to South Africa to meet
people I had high regard for: Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. Mandela
said I should follow my instinct. Tutu said I should not be tired of
serving my people.
“I came back home to see pastor. And I
told my story. We prayed and he said you can go, when God tells me what I
should tell you, I will call for you. I was surprised that Mandela and
Tutu gave me answers on the spot, but he said I should go. When will God
tell him?
told my story. We prayed and he said you can go, when God tells me what I
should tell you, I will call for you. I was surprised that Mandela and
Tutu gave me answers on the spot, but he said I should go. When will God
tell him?
“A couple of weeks or thereabouts, I was
sent for and he said God had said I should go ahead. If there was any
doubt in my mind, all were gone.
sent for and he said God had said I should go ahead. If there was any
doubt in my mind, all were gone.
“I picked my Bible to read while
returning home and it was the Book of Esther that I opened. I saw where
Esther was told that maybe it is because of this that God has brought
you here.”
returning home and it was the Book of Esther that I opened. I saw where
Esther was told that maybe it is because of this that God has brought
you here.”
Obasanjo, who noted that politicians
were supposed to influence the lives of the masses positively, said
Pastor Adeboye had done more than politicians in this regard.
were supposed to influence the lives of the masses positively, said
Pastor Adeboye had done more than politicians in this regard.
He said, “As politicians, we are
supposed to touch lives, but, for Pastor Adeboye, he has touched more
lives than politicians. He has been a man of God with a difference, whom
I benefited from personally when I was consulting to contest the 1999
election.”
supposed to touch lives, but, for Pastor Adeboye, he has touched more
lives than politicians. He has been a man of God with a difference, whom
I benefited from personally when I was consulting to contest the 1999
election.”