Radical Rev. Bayode Olubo, the Lead Pastor of HouseFavour Church, Egbeda, Lagos, in this interview with SEGUN OLATUNJI, bares his mind on his foray into the gospel ministry, Christendom and sundry national issues. Excerpts:
How did you find yourself in working in the Lord’s vineyard?
I was born and brought up in the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Anu, Akure, Ondo State. The day I was born, they told my mother that your son would be a prophet to nations. That was what the Iya Agbebi, who took delivery of my birth told my mum. When I was eight years old, my family started taking whatever I said seriously because you would see the result. Even my mum’s friends would not joke with whatever I said. Most of the people I grew up with never contested whatever I say. Whenever I say it, I don’t know how it comes, God backs it up. That’s why most of the time, I’m being very careful about what I say. It’s not because of the fear of God but because of the effect of what I say that I’m always very careful.
So, I’ve been too conscious of my utterances. I knew I was going to do God’s work but I never liked to do it because when I was growing up a lot of pastors then used to come around my mum and I knew they were coming to ask for money. That was one of the reasons why I fought hard not to do this work. But as God would have it, I found myself in the ministry. At a point in my secondary school days I was tagged a witch because of the power of prophesy and vision God has endowed me with. But when I grew up to my 40s, I began to detest being called a pastor. God uses me for miracles. I became born again in 1986 and came back to Lagos where I gave my life to Christ again. But amazingly, a pastor then told me that God had been waiting for me for too long. But I wanted to enjoy my life. To the glory of God, my mentor now is Adetoye Adetola in Houston, Texas and that’s why I travel frequently to the US and so, if I have challenges, I travel to see the man of God and also my mum lives there.
What has been your experience since you went fully into the ministry?
I’ve always had challenges in the ministry but at a time I went to God and asked the reason behind my troubles, why people pick on my words. Remember, what I told you earlier. So, whatever I said, people used it against me. But God now said to me you are doing what I never sent you. God said you are functioning in another man’s office; that if you are functioning in your own office, which is scriptural also, God said if you are functioning as a prophet, people will not use your words against you. Not all pastors would have the same experience with me. But we all have our uniqueness of grace. The kind of grace I enjoy has made it possible for me not to be stranded in the ministry.
What else would have been engaged in for a living if you had not been in the ministry?
I would have been a journalist. I would have been a public speaker because I study a lot. I read a lot and I have volume of books. I invest a lot on books. I wouldn’t be a politician because I’m too open. I don’t like hidden things. That’s why I would have loved to be a journalist and I’m not too sure I won’t still go into journalism. I can still go to NIJ. I love journalism because journalists are very pragmatic, though some have messed it up.
What is your opinion on the budget padding controversy in the House or Representatives?
You know politicians lie a lot. Look at what is happening in the National Assembly now, Dogara and the others defending fraud. It has never happened in history. They said that it’s part of the game to pad budget. You are the number four citizen of the country and you are making such utterances. What kind of legacy are you leaving behind for the coming generations? So, I subscribe to the scrapping of the National Assembly. They are not worth to lead Nigerians. They are all just there to make money for themselves. It’s all about greed and greed. This National Assembly is the most corrupt set of lawmakers Nigeria has ever had. They are not fit to be there. They don’t deserve any honour. From Saraki downwards, I don’t care who they are. There is no way you can lead well when you are liar, when you are not sincere and transparent. I told some people before the election last year that Buhari cannot solve our problems, he has nothing to offer us. Though Nigeria is going through a phase, I can bet you Buhari would only try his best. His best is the worst of the best he has to try. He’s not the one that would rescue Nigeria.
So, where lies the solution to Nigeria’s problems?
There is going to be an emergence of a new party in Nigeria and if care is not taken, there is going to be a revolution. What I’m seeing is not pleasant, what God showed me is not pleasant. Any pastor, prophet, apostle, imam, whoever they are that can see vision and are in the realm of the spirit can fault what I say, but I’m telling you it’s God that can save Nigeria and not Buhari. Buhari is ok, fine but the man is already biased, the man is confused now. He’s trying his best but when a man is confused and you are trying your best in the confusion, that is, you don’t even know what you are doing yet. Buhari is not the solution to Nigeria’s problems.
What is your view about the proliferation of churches in Nigeria?
We do not have enough yet. A time will come that every room will be a church. Secondly, our population is growing and if you can pray and hear God speak, churches will continue to enlarge. Your ministry is your area of specialization, your area of calling. I’m more into the prophetic. What I’m I called to do? To restore the dignity of man through the word of hope and I asked God what is the key, he said favour. So, I preach favour. I’m a preacher, I’m not a teacher, I’m not a pastor. I’m a prophet, I’m a preacher. It’s not everybody that will have a big church. We should abide in our callings. I have over a thousand widows that I take care of because God told me my ministry would be known through welfare. So, we instituted a department called Samaritan Purse Project. Pastors will say that they have burden for souls but I have burden for people. When a man is well fed, he will serve God well. I’m not saying food should be a bait. In the Bible Jesus fed Peter and he followed him. 5,000 people were fed and they followed him. Adam fell because of food.
Is it true that Pentecostal pastors live flamboyant lifestyle?
Nobody is displaying unnecessary wealth. Most of the things that people claim men of God are enjoying are given to them. Even as a journalist, when you came in here, if the air conditioner here was not working, you won’t be sitting comfortably. Whatever you do in life consistently and God is on your side, results would follow. It’s not your preaching of prosperity that fetches you money. No! It is serving a God that owns the heaven and the earth. The Bible says the earth is the Lord’s and its fullness therein and they that dwell therein. It’s true there are some excesses on the part of some pastors. You can tag it flamboyance because they are buying private jets. I think the problem we have is the unnecessary competition amongst the men of God. They are competing over things of this world at the expense of the vision and mission God has given them.
How do you see the fight against corruption by the President Muhammadu Buhari government?
The anti-corruption policy is already biased. It’s targeted at the opposition. We are not in a military era. There is freedom of speech and expression. I’m not saying that corruption should not be checked, but the government’s focus on anti-corruption is causing Nigeria a distraction and we are not achieving anything with it. Look at the Naira, it has never been so in the history of Nigeria, N390/ N400 to one dollar. I just returned from the US; the prices of things in America remain the way they were four or five years ago. So, the government should refocus its attention and pay more attention to the agricultural sector. The money they have recovered should be given out as loans to farmers. They should be encouraged. You have recovered looted funds, spread the money, give it to the states. Some states are owing seven to eight months workers’ salaries and you are keeping this money somewhere. The states should be funded. So, the government should shift its attention from chasing shadows. They should fund the states; banks are closing down. Things are getting too tough. When it affects the society, it also affects the church. So, they should release money.
Is it not lack of visionary leadership that is bedeviling Nigeria?
Visionary leadership and visionary followers, too. It’s a two-way thing. A good leader will have a good follower and when you carry your people along, you educate the public. But we still lack this in this part of the world. When you educate the public, the people will understand but the social amenities should be put in place. Our problem is planning.
