To the glory of God and all who deserve honour, I write.
I write to you my brethren, because we are one in Christ. I know the Lord as my Saviour and I have by His grace been in the faith for about 55 years.
I write to you men and brethren because the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. I am a politician inspired by the Holy Spirit. I was elected Prime Deputy Governor of Edo State, “the Heart Beat of the Nation” and was in office from 1992 to 1993, to the glory of God. I write to you my brethren to recall to mind that I was in exile for about five years after the military coup of General Sani Abacha. I became an active member in NADECO. I was one of the few that was in strategic committee with great minds like Lieutenant-General Alani Akinirade, Commodore Dan Suleman, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Senator Bola Tinubu, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyemi, the late Ambassador Raph Uwuche, Chie John Odigie-Oyegun, Dr Kayode Fayemi and our late Pa Anthony Enahoro.
I write to you my brethren because I love God like you do but I desire that you understand political issues based on facts and truth, as we all seek an egalitarian society. To correctly extrapolate current issues in arriving at a just, factual and spiritual conclusion, you need knowledge of the past. When done, we can conclude where God is leading us. “We can do nothing against the truth but for the truth”
I write to you because I was with our father, Archbishop Professor Benson Idahosa of blessed memory in attempting to direct the political minds of the saints for leadership in Nigeria.
Permit me to write expressly about myself in this paragraph that it might be known that I have not been influenced or persuaded to make this presentation.
Aside from Mama Archbishop Dr Margaret Benson-Idahosa JP, I am the oldest member of the Idahosa Ministry, having been associated in fellowship when membership of our Pentecostal congregation was less than 30. I have served in various capacities in the Ministry.
I was a Youth treasurer, Sunday School secretary, Sunday School superintendent, national Presbyter member of the Supreme Executive Council, twice pastor of the Mother Church (CGMI, lyaro), National Auditor of the Church (pro-bono while Papa was alive), chairman of the Word of Faith Group of Schools, Lecturer, All Nations for Christ Bible Institute; Chairman of the first Constitution Drafting committee, chairman and initiator of the C.G.M. Sunday School Manual as currently being used, Author of 23 books freely distributed and currently Member of the Benson Idahosa University Council as constituted by Mama.
I was a founding member of the Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship and I have directed many religious convocations. I am a Chartered Accountant and Tax Consultant, having qualified as a chartered accountant (ACCA) at 26 without going through a tertiary institution. I have been honoured with a Merit Award by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. Mine is godliness with contentment.
I write to you with confidence realising that men of faith and cloud of witnesses like these my brothers, William Kumuyi, David Oyedepo, Mike Okonkwo, Wale Oke, Joseph Ojo, Ayo Oritsejafor, Felix Omobude, Emma Onofurho and a host of others of the older generation can authenticate or testify to facts herein stated, my attributes, political standing but, above all, my faith. Let it be known, however, that I desire most what God says about me.
Therefore, I write to you, my brethren, and to many of you in the faith that I can refer to as my dear children, so that you may know the truth, as only the truth can lead us to take the right political decision on who rules Nigeria come 2023.
Wisdom is the principal thing for dependence and it is profitable to direct. We know that the government that be is as ordained (permitted) by God. God will always allow a reign of human authority to either bless His people or chastise His children. Romans 13: 1. “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God”. What we consider weak, inappropriate and not fit and proper to rule, God uses to glorify His name. 1 Corinthians 1:27
As Christians, we are counselled to pray for those in authority so that we could have peace of mind. 1 Timothy 2: 1-2 “First of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all goodliness and honesty”. What manner of prayers do we hear these days?
We know that when the wicked rule, the people sorrow. Irrespective of how terrible a government may be, when we pray as saints and God is introduced into the situation, He changes it for our good.
What was the story of Abacha? The vibrant youths in their thirties may not appreciate what God did some 24 years ago unless they are history students. “The effectual fervent prayers of the righteous availeth much”. God has not changed.
I write to you my brethren because I am one of the Pentecostal political forerunners in our dispensation with the slogans of ‘No cross, No crown’ and ‘when the righteous rule, the people rejoice’. Herein, I remember one of our fathers, Samuel Odunaike, who paid the supreme prize while campaigning in 1991. May his soul continue to rest in the Lord.
I write, therefore, to you because I have gone through the mill and what I see and talk about in politics, most of my Pentecostal brethren may not comprehend. Politics is not fish and chips. In Nigeria, political issues are dynamic and you cannot theorize on issues.
While in exile, we fought for the institutionalisation of democracy and some of Nigeria’s finest men like late Pa Anthony Enahoro, Lieutenant-General Alani Akinrinade, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Commodore Dan Suleman, the late Ambassador Ralph Uwuche, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyemi and Senator Bola Tinubu did put their lives on the line for this nation. In winter and summer, we advocated justice, equity, true federalism and oneness. Like Nehemiah, we desired to build the broken walls of our Jerusalem.
To the extent that we (NADECO in Exile) conceived a government in exile and as men of knowledge and wisdom, we set in place the type of nation we want and how it should be ruled. We recalled often our forgotten National Anthem “though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand”. We should inculcate this phrase in all our children.
Let me herein commend Professor Wole Soyinka for his activation of NALICON and support to NADECO. I must commend Lieutenant-General Alani Akinrinade and Senator Bola Tinubu who funded the struggle. Senator [Rashidi] Ladoja and the late Chief Harry Akande were friends of NADECO in exile. I was in charge of the Quadrangle office donated by Lieutenant-Generak Akinrinade and I can attest to our individual acts because I kept a good diary.
Most of you have read my books titled “Children in Exile” and “Ambassadors in chains”. Please read the later, it’s just
227 pages and over 5,000 copies were freely distributed.
A change of government of Abdulsalami Abubakar was initiated by the powers that be, to enable us bring to reality the type of
government we conceived, and Chief Anthony Enahoro was suggested as the next president of the country. I was invited to persuade Pa Enahoro by the inner caucus and to this move, former President Ibrahim Babagida took time to talk to Pa Enahoro over the phone which I witnessed in one of the London hotels organised by
Senator David Mark and Senator Tunde Ogbeha and to the knowledge of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun because I informed him. Like I did when we signed the Radio Kudirat documentation in Lieutenant-General Akinrinade house. I signed for South-South. These two retired generals did so much to effect a change for good in Nigeria.
Chief Enahoro turned down the offer and so the men in uniform reached out to President Obasanjo. At a party organised by the late Ralph Uwuche for President Obasanjo after his incarceration, with 10 of us in attendance, I was assigned to probe OBJ’s interest. When I had the opportunity, we discussed Papa Idahosa whom he claimed comforted him in prison through his letters which led him to Christ. Although he told me that he would have nothing to do with presidency, it was obvious that he was also accessing
NADECO members.
Our vision in exile burns in all the members although it appeared buried for 24 years; buried until now that a David is ripe enough to take over from Saul.
NADECO members do not all belong to the same political party. However, Senator Bola Tinubu has been running with the vision. It was the collective vision as we desired that he played out in Lagos by recruiting men who could also run with the vision to change the structure and prosperity of Lagos. Still propelled by that vision, he has chosen again to be president. I am persuaded that Tinubu saw beyond religion in the man [Kashim] Shettima that he has chosen to be Vice President.
I write, therefore, to you my brethren because there is an Esther in the house, who will help Mordecai and the children of Israel. Let the Muslim-Muslim ticket be and let God have His way. The heart of the King is in the hand of God who turns it withersoever He wills. Proverbs 21:21
By the shedding of Christ blood, salvation was secured. He is the Blessed Assurance. There is an Esther in the house of Tinubu and by the righteousness of the wife, the man shall be cleansed. (1 Corithians 7 vs 14). Brethren, there is an Esther in the house called Remi, Remilekun (Stop my grief). This should be our contentment and this is an Esther who is determined and
can declare “if I perish, I perish.” God has gone before us.
I write to you my brethren to avoid listening to Satanic verses and voices for many have risen in emotional outburst without hearing from God, the God of knowledge, Who knows our end from our
beginning. They take the name of the Lord in vain. They speak to draw sadness over spoken words and quest for puritarian environment, ascribing their statements to God, like the mene
mene tekel Upharsin (Daniel 5:25) but their blabbings are vain,
like a sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal.
I have gone through the mill like I said and I want to see the tree of democracy we dreamt about in exile grow.
Let these ministers of doom realise that he who wills a dagger never wears the crown. They have forgotten vital issue of praying for all those in authority so that we can have a peaceable living environment. I write to you my brethren that you may know that after 24 years, Tinubu is picking up the mantle of leadership without realising that he is a tool in God’s hand. He is a battle axe. Senator Bola Tinubu is picking up the mantle in the 25th year of rejection on behalf of all who fought for democracy, those who helped to nurture and bring democracy to fruition, inclusive
of all those issues we conceived in exile, during the reign of the military junta of General Seni Abacha. Tinubu is standing for all the men and women who fought and died for democracy.
He is standing for Ken Saro Wiwa and the students that gave their
lives. He is standing for the unknown soldiers who died in the civil war to make Nigeria one. He is standing for men and women who died in plane crashes during the junta’s reign and the young military officers whose plane was brought down.
This is a divine mandate and Tinubu is only a tool in God’s hand. When God has finished processing this election, the saints will appreciate that their prayers over the years and their cry for a just society is not in vain.
Although the fig tree has not blossomed, let us all rejoice in the Lord for year 2023 is the beginning of greater things for our nation. The God of the valley is the God of the mountains. The God of the hard times, difficult times, perilous times, is still the God of the bountiful harvest to come.
The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong..but time and chance happeneth to them all (Eccl 9:1). I am not a prophet, but be assured that this election has been settled by God. Tinubu will be our President.
Before I say thank you, Let me appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari for the courage to reprint currencies which as an accountant I know will in the long run control our liquidity management and strengthen our currency.
Thank you
