By Lukmon Akintola
Today, I can beat my chest and say that there is no other prophet in Africa as kindhearted as Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele. If you doubt me, name the person and I am open for a debate anywhere, anytime.
As far as kindness, the spirit of compassion, and generosity are concerned, the spiritual leader of Inri Evangelical Spiritual Church, Lagos State is a case study. Without overemphasizing it, he is one man whom governments in Africa should take time to study, understand, and implement his ideologies.
The logic is simple, if one man can singlehandedly use his limited resources to touch the lives of so many people, why won’t a good government that understands his ideologies be able to do much more?
On what basis am I taking this position you might want to ask. My encounter with Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele was destined, to put it plain and simple.
As a young and ambitious journalist eager to make my mark in the industry, I heard of the prophet, but could not have access to him because a senior colleague we called “Chairman” then in my office was the one reporting activities at the man of God’s church, that was his unofficial beat.
As God would have it, my senior colleague moved on from the Independent Newspaper where I was working then, paving the way for me to know Primate Ayodele, a man who had enjoyed mixed feelings regarding his prophesies. The masses loved him for his several words of truth to the government, while the powers that be hated his guts. Many in government described him as a man who just couldn’t keep quiet. They knew what he was saying was the fact, but just couldn’t own up to it publicly.
Having done my research, I was amazed by the personality of Primate Ayodele, and so on that fateful day in 2013, I picked up my phone and called him regarding a story I was working on and wanted his reaction. At the first ring, a soft voice who introduced himself as Primate Ayodele picked up and gave me the reaction I needed for my story, and even extended an invitation to his church if I felt I was not satisfied.
Always looking for quality content, that weekend, I went to the church expecting to see one very aloof man with all the security personnel in the world. This is typical of some Nigerian pastors who use almost more security than the President of the country. However, on getting to the church, I got the shock of my life. Wait for it.
Nervous yet determined to conduct a thorough and insightful interview, I was ushered into the prophet’s chambers, where I was met with warmth and respect, so much respect, nothing like I had ever witnessed as a journalist. Primate Elijah Ayodele listened intently to my questions, offering profound insights and candid revelations. I was struck by his humility and sincerity, as well as his unwavering commitment to truth and justice. A man who had been interviewed by some of the best in the industry, if at any point he saw my nativity, he never showed it all through the interview, as he kept urging me on, throwing in new perspectives for us to explore.
On that day, through his words, I gained a deeper understanding of the prophetic calling and the profound impact it can have on individuals and communities alike. I was inspired by his unwavering faith and compassion, vowing to share his message with the world.
A reporter’s delight, Primate Ayodele, went from speaking about his philosophy of life to ministry, and the government of Nigeria. He capped it on that day with his prophesies, it was indeed a delightful experience for me, as that interview made me a five-star reporter when the story was published.
Since then, I have enjoyed a lovely father-and-son relationship with the enigmatic prophet who though opinionated welcomes objective criticisms that make us all better people.
Through my father-and-son relationship with him and my job as a journalist, I have since witnessed an immeasurable show of love from the prophet to journalists. I too have on several occasions benefited from his show of love too.
Former Encomium Magazine Editor, Tade Asifat collecting the key to an SUV gifted to him by Primate Ayodele at a recently held event.
The second edition of Primate Ayodele’s palliative market
His empowerment and support, from financial assistance for journalists who want to go abroad for further studies to scholarships for those whose children have gained admission into the university, the list and nature of empowerment members of the fourth estate have enjoyed is endless. I have also been witness to several financial assistance given to countless online and print journalists in need and at other times just as a sign of encouragement for the good work they have been doing. Shockingly, Primate Ayodele even empowers the wives of journalists.
Interestingly, the height of Primate Ayodele’s empowerment and show of love to journalists is set to hit a whole new level, as the man of God during one of his programmes promised to give some journalists lands to build houses in the near future. On the day of this pronouncement, I found a new meaning to the transformative power of kindness and compassion, as well as the profound impact it can have on individuals.
Knowing the kind of person Primate Ayodele is, I am positive that despite the hardship in the country, today even as you read this many including journalists would enjoy his generosity, knowing that he has splashed millions of Naira on buying different empowerment materials to complete his annual thanksgiving which normally climaxes with service in his church.
Although there have been many who have insinuated that all of these gifts to journalists are in a bid to buy them and ensure that they don’t write negative stories about the prophet, shockingly several media practitioners who I know have written false stories about Primate Ayodele have also enjoyed his show of love. On an occasion, I asked the man of God why he does what he does for the needy and his response was apt, “This is my way of making the country a better place, I didn’t come with anything and I won’t go with anything, why not use what I have to help those who don’t have,” he asked me. When I probed further regarding his empowerment for journalists, he answered thus: “Luke, people don’t care about journalists, they are the ones who tell the world the secrets that governments don’t want to come out, they are the ones who tell people what is happening in the country, they work hard, but they are not well paid, if we are at a party, they are the ones that would eat last, so I took it upon myself and said that in my little way, I will make things better, its that simple” he added.
Though I know that Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele enjoys an unequal kind of grace, my prayer is that he continues to do so because if he does what he is doing for journalists now will be nothing compared to what he would do in a few years to come, I am convinced about this. For the sake of journalists, God please give us more people like Primate Ayodele.
Lukmon Akintola is a journalist, a public speaker, and the publisher of https://www.theoctopusnews.com. He writes from Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State.
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