Prophet Olawale Ikotun, is the president of the Olarufus International Ministry and founder of the High Tower Prayer Ministry worldwide, Ipaja, Lagos. In this interview, he speaks with SEYI SOKOYA on the current state of the nation and how it has affected the church, among other issues.
HOW is the church coping with the current biting economic condition?
We are all feeling the heat as other Nigerians. The high cost of things has affected the church greatly and we have been able to cut our coats according to the clothes. However, we cannot limit ourselves to what the country throws at us because we must keep our hopes alive. This is why we are a true church leader. It is a time to increase the level of faith among our people and also support them as a church.
Our church has graciously put smiles on peoples’ faces even before these things times. There is nothing I cannot do to help anybody around me and we are not limited even with the low offerings and tithes. The church is feeling the heat the most. The income has reduced drastically, but God has been faithful. If it is by the amount we are getting as income, it is like 1 per cent compared to the expenses of the runnings of the church. Yet we have not relented in impacting lives spiritually and physically. We have supported the youths in so many ways. We have a non-spiritual programme tagged, “Destiny Class” where we engage youths and adults about life.
With your experience in the North do you think Nigeria can be free from religious crisis?
Everyone who has lived in the north will have a clear view of what is happening over there. It is a sensitive part of the nation. I have first-hand experience when it comes to crises in the north. Although they call it a religious crisis, it is not usually so. I remember a man in Kurna Asabe, Kano State, that year, he was a Muslim. He was brought out from the mosque and was killed while praying because he was a Yoruba. I don’t think that has to do with religious issues; I think it is a tribal issue. Another grave experience I don’t like to remember was the one they call Maitatsine. Even though I was so small then, I could still remember how serious it was then. This crisis led me to Ilesha back then. I remember that my mother would always rebuke the Maitatsine crisis. I think it was in the 80s.
I had another horrible experience during my high school in 1999. I schooled in Bedenkaya, in Kano; it was the base of the Hausas. It is always a heal when a crisis erupts. We got a signal to return home at a time. So, on the verge of rushing back home, a Hausa guy had to take us away from the Hausa community with his bus. He even protected us when we got to a checkpoint, but one of us was afraid during interrogation at the checkpoint and was killed with baragomi (a long-crafted weapon designed by the Hausas). It was a dark Friday I can’t forget. Unfortunately, the Hausa guy who eventually made us escape from the Hausa base was also killed by the non-Hausa community, which was so pathetic for me.
I can go on and on with my experience in the north. Tribal issues are so high in that part of the country and I don’t like to be talking about my northern experience at all. Anyone who had a similar in the north would suggest a breakup in Nigeria. As a Muslim, I can say boldly that you are a pegant when it comes to a Hausa man. We need to know that the Islam we practice in the South is different from that of the North. I can boldly inform you that no Hausa man would allow a non-Hausa person to lead prayers in the mosque, why? But in Christianity, an Igbo man can be a cleric to a Yoruba person and vice versa. Even among the Hausa Christians, we don’t discriminate.
But the bitter truth is to go separate ways to avoid further waste of precious lives and damage to properties. Nigeria ought to have been more developed than this and if separation is the solution why can’t we embrace it? The unfortunate situation is that the three zones are not ripe for separation. The Yorubas might even suffer more because of low farming. The insecurity challenge in the country has killed the agricultural system. Invasion of the foreigner in our agricultural system is nothing to write home about. This is a big problem. No one dares to engage in agriculture on a larger scale, Imagine how many lives have been wasted through agriculture. So, why won’t we experience scarcity and inflation of food? I don’t support division in Nigeria, but it would be so ideal that the leadership and all Nigerians find a lasting solution to tribalism, ethnic crisis, and anything that will cause a setback for this nation. We are praying so hard for a greater unity of the country and we are confident that God would take absolute control.
How do you think the government can overcome the many challenges hanging on its neck?
They need prayers, but prayer alone can’t solve Nigeria’s problem. No matter how you know how to pray, no fish will swim into your kitchen. You need to go to the stream to fish. The plain truth is that we need to know the mind of God concerning this country. We may be looking at break up, and God is looking at unity. It will help us as a nation to know the true mind of God and get them involved in the affairs of the nation. Nigeria needs spiritual guardians. We can only achieve this by retracing our steps, surrendering the nation to God, and should not neglect the wise counsel of the true men of God.
The government has the full capacity to end the issue of insecurity of the nation, but, sadly, they have not taken a drastic step to put an end to it because some cabals are milking from the effects of insecurity of the nation. The solution to insurgency in Nigeria is to face the reality and I know God will help us. Our security system needs to be overhauled and more equipped.
How has the church supported the government in bringing relief to Nigerians at these trying times?
Many churches are trying their best one way or the other to support people in various ways. We know the country is so tense and we are not unaware of the hunger in the land. As for us, it has become part of our core responsibilities to support people through feeding and empowerment. We know the government cannot do it alone and as a church, we don’t only preach the word but also exhibit the core values of the gospel.
I noticed that many people are tilting to every other means to boost their financial status because of the state of the nation irrespective of the ripple effect. In a few year’s time people will no longer be interested in white-collar, and even artisan jobs, people will venture more into gambling to gain quick money to survive. People no longer have regard for the house of God; they even stake and gamble during church services. Some people even come to listen to Lucky Deep Numbers in church most times. Some clerics, now give predictions of results of football matches. This is so unacceptable and ungodly.
Your ministry just clocked 15 years ago, how has it been?
We have enjoyed divine and accelerated grace in the last 15 years. God placed a prophetic ministry in my hands and I have ensured to follow through with His guidance. I studied Banking and Finance at the Kano State Polytechnic and worked in the bank when I graduated. I was also once a professional footballer. I played professional league for Jigawa Golden Stars and State Police as a goalkeeper, before I received the call. I think I would have become a famous financial expert or banker if I hadn’t received the call.
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