Fellow Nigerians, let me say how
delighted I feel right now that I made the trip to Israel this past
week. Israel is not new to me just like I’m not new to Israel. In
addition, I have good friends from that small, but extremely powerful
nation. I will return to that shortly, as this trip was full of drama.

Let’s begin with Act 1, Scene 1. I had
no intention of heading to Israel at this time, my studies in Oxford and
a couple of projects in Nigeria and Ghana meant that travelling to that
side of the world was not in my consciousness at all. However, God must
have planned the journey without my knowledge. The trip dropped itself
on my laps without warning.

I had received a call from one of the most prayerful and extremely benevolent women of God, Reverend Mother Abimbola Esther Ajayi, popularly known by her moniker, Iya Adura, who incidentally had invited and taken me to Jerusalem, between 2017 and 2018. On the trip I got introduced to a very efficient tour operator, Shadia, who took good care of all of us.

TB Joshua
TB Joshua
The call from Iya Adura, with whom I
talk almost daily on several issues, this time was at the instance of
Shadia who wanted an introduction and recommendation to the incredibly
popular Prophet, Temitope Balogun Joshua (T.B. Joshua), who has been a
long-time friend and Brother of mine. Iya Adura apparently told Shadia
she has no contact for or association with T. B Joshua but mentioned my
name as one person that can definitely reach Prophet T. B Joshua who
happens to be one of the most sought-after human beings in Africa, and
beyond. So, Mama called, and I swung into action immediately.

I started by calling all the numbers I
had for Prophet T. B Joshua but couldn’t reach him directly. I left
messages but got no instant response. However, two days later he sent a
text that he’d also been trying my numbers in Nigeria, Ghana and the
United Kingdom since the day before upon seeing my calls and messages. I
obviously did not recognize the number he was calling from and I did
not get to reply immediately. I quickly called him, and we spoke with
our usual conviviality. I told him the reason I wanted to speak to him,
and he requested for Shadia’s number with automatic alacrity and
promised to reach out to her instantly. I felt greatly honoured that
such an incredibly busy man could accord me such respect. To my utter
amazement, I confirmed from Shadia minutes later that he reached out to
her as promised.

I thought that was all. My introduction
and task were over, I withdrew into my shell, but it was not to be for
long. Days later, I got a call from Prophet T. B Joshua asking me to
join him on his trip to Nazareth for a powerful crusade. There was no
way I could have said no to him. I immediately accepted his invitation. I
promised to travel from London to Israel as I had to return to the
University of Oxford where I have been on Fellowship. He promised to
call back and we spoke a few more times before the journey.

Act 1, Scene 2. All was set and I
seriously looked forward to visiting the birthplace of our Lord Jesus
Christ. On the day of travel, I arrived London Heathrow Airport Terminal
5 early, as I always do. I hate to arrive late to the airport like some
people do and start rushing and panting. The best part of the journey
for me is exhaustively making use of the lounges of airlines like
Emirates, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways. You can do with a bit of
pampering before you fly. Well, at least I can! On this occasion, I was
flying with British Airways and once through the departure formalities I
promptly went into the Concorde Lounge and buried myself into the sheer
luxury that the it has to offer.

After leaving the lounge on this special
day, I boarded my flight early and settled down comfortably in my seat.
Then a message flew in from my cousin that there were reports of
possible trouble for Prophet T. B Joshua in Nazareth. I opened the link
and there were tales of different groups including Christians, Rabbis
and Muslims, objecting seriously to the planned crusade by T. B Joshua. I
foresaw an apocalypse ahead but knowing myself well enough, I was
actually energized and more determined to witness whatever would happen
on the day. Journalists are like soldiers; we love and revel in action
and the big news.

I landed in Tel Aviv late evening of
June 21, 2019, but due to the long walk to Immigration desks and the
queues, I only managed to pick my bags past midnight and arrived the
Ramada Hotel, in Nazareth, at a time most normal people were fast asleep
and probably snoring away. Throughout my taxi drive to Nazareth, I was
on the lookout for any sign of trouble but saw none at all. The events
were billed to start on June 23 and end on June 24. I went to bed
dog-tired and barely struggled to wake up for breakfast at about 10a.m.

Not much happened until D-Day, June 23.
There was palpable tension because of the negative news that had gone
viral. Will the crusade go on or not was the million-dollar question on
every lip? But the organizers were unperturbed. They went about their
duty with every sense of purpose and responsibility. Nothing was left to
chance. Security was top of the agenda. They were determined not to let
anyone come to constitute a nuisance. On a regular day, Israel never
jokes with Security not to talk of an unusual day such as this.

You must give it to T. B Joshua, he
meticulously executed this project. His team was just superb. The
attendees came from different parts of the world. Wow, we seem to
underrate T. B Joshua back home. Without sounding profane, he is
regarded and treated like a supernatural being in Israel. He is adored
and worshipped with great fervour indeed. When I landed at Tel Aviv
airport, several people asked me with admiration and enthusiasm if I had
come for T. B Joshua’s program. I was so proud that a fellow Nigerian
has succeeded in capturing the imagination of this part of the world in
this manner.

Act 1, Scene 3. The event started slowly
at about 4pm with some soul-lifting and stirring music by the choir
assembled as a potpourri of Arabs and Africans. It came to a crescendo
when T. B Joshua came in humbly, but powerfully, in his usual garb of
shirt and trousers. He looked so majestic and mercurial even in his
simplicity. He climbed the stage and grabbed the microphone and the
audience roared as he began to teach like a true follower of Christ and
the Holy Bible that he is. His theme for this first session was about
love and he quoted copiously about love from the holy book to the
excitement and adulation of the throngs of people massed and gathered to
watch, listen and worship with him. He told them to love those who hate
and despise them, no matter how difficult that seems.

His opening words were dramatic and
foreshadowed the intense passion that was to follow. “My name is T. B
Joshua. Some people call me Prophet. Some call me Pastor… They have
given me different titles, but all I know is that my name is T. B
Joshua. That is enough for me…” The crowd went wild in ecstatic
jubilation at the simplicity of his introduction of his person. After a
few minutes, the prophet came down and came out to be closer and
interact with his followers. Miracle seekers had jammed the place in
droves. They came from far and near, with all manner of challenges and
disabilities. The Prophet who obviously was used to this was unruffled.
He told them to have faith in the power of Jesus Christ to deliver them
from all evil. He told them all diseases are the handiwork of the devil,
but that the Lord, being a merciful, loving and benevolent God would
come down to heal them, provided they believed in God as their Lord and
Saviour.

Then they were lined up in rows and the
Prophet started laying hands on them. Even before touching some of them,
they were already reacting with spasms and seemed to be under the
control and influence of some supernatural being. He started touching
them, and some fell down, some screamed, some rolled on the floor and
some did a combination of these things. Some were thanking God for
healing them instantly. Some begged him to have mercy on them. T. B
Joshua has totally matured into his evangelical work. It was wonderful
and inspiring watching him at work. Meanwhile, his wife, Lady Evelyn,
stood solidly behind him like the Rock of Gibraltar and assisted as
required. The event ended at about 9p.m without any hitch. The Prophet
of the Lord, T. B. Joshua performed miracles and touched hundreds of
devotees during the event. The event was simply epochal, and I felt
truly privileged to have been a part of it.

Act 2, Scene 1. The second day came and
followed the same pattern. In his preaching, T. B Joshua revealed how he
had visited Mount Precipice three years ago and was shocked to find the
place overgrown with weeds. He had promised at the time to turn the
place around and make it into an Eldorado. He showed the video of how
desolate and forlorn the place looked at the time. True to his word, T.
B. Joshua has radically changed and altered the place and its
environment, turning it into a magnificent and powerful amphitheatre for
the worship of God. In doing this, he has not only built a testament to
the glory of God, he has created direct and indirect employment for
hundreds of people and become a wealth creator and facilitator for this
little historical and biblical part of Nazareth, as most of Nazareth is.
Indeed, it is no longer a site of rejection as the Bible tells us but a
site of regeneration and hope. Pope Benedict who worshipped there with
more than 40,000 people would be glad to see that today, T B Joshua has
restored this monument to the glory that it should have and more
besides.

In the course of our visit, I was
invited to his office, he had many rooms and tents all over the mountain
and wherever I went to I saw the awesome work and wonder of the Man of
God. We discussed the magnitude of his work for a few minutes before I
departed to the hotel. I left with a better picture and appreciation of a
T. B Joshua to whom we don’t seem to give enough respect at home. With
what I saw, heard and learnt, I have come to believe that he has
suffered too many unjustified insults and tribulations back home.

My take is that religion is a voluntary
act. Joshua has never forced anyone to worship with him against that
person’s wish or to attend his Synagogue by compulsion. He has not
coerced anyone into seeking to receive the miracles he professes to
bring to people on behalf of God. Let me say, emphatically, that as far
as I am concerned, he is the single biggest tourism attraction in Lagos.
I expect Lagos State Government to tap into this goldmine by
collaborating with Joshua and turning the roads leading to his place of
worship into well maintained expressways. That is what Joshua himself
has done in Mount Precipice, but laws, envy, lack of understanding and
comprehension as well as the capriciousness of our leaders have made it
impossible for him to replicate this feat in his own backyard. This is
what would have happened in other climes.

If what I witnessed in Nazareth is
anything to judge by, T. B Joshua has become a religious prodigy and
icon. My taxi drivers in Nazareth swore by his name. I became a star
myself by dropping his name. The newspapers were agog with the news of
our Man of God as he spread the gospel at this unique and spectacular
event. T B Joshua made me proud to be a Nigerian. It is not all gloom
and doom.

I thank God on his behalf…

literally, i kept on checking dictionary after every 3 words.