Bishop Francis Wale Oke is no doubt one of the leading Pentecostal voices in the nation. With over three decades in God’s vineyard, the cleric, whose Ibadan-based Sword of the Spirit Ministries has been a force to reckon with in Christendom, believes that the just concluded presidential election was a contest of no victor no, no vanquished.
In a recent INTERVIEW with DAILY POST’s AMEH COMRADE GODWIN, the soft-spoken preacher, who also doubles as National vice president of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, in charge of South West, assured the president-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari that the Christian body is not against his government.
Bishop Oke, while congratulating President Jonathan for accepting defeat, called on other politicians to follow the trend by congratulating their opponents after elections.
He also spoke on other germane issues concerning the nation.
Excerpts
Sir, what is your take on the just conducted presidential election?
First, I must congratulate Nigeria (as a country) for proving the world wrong. I must also congratulate Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for taking that bold step by conceding defeat without pushing further. I must confess that action alone saved Nigeria from disaster and calamity.Because before the election, there was this serious apprehension, the world was expecting the nation to implode. They were waiting for disaster and mayhem but the very opposite happened, courtesy of that call by President Jonathan. I think the election is a case of no victor, no vanquished.
Before the election, there was this unholy union between the Christian Association of Nigeria and leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party; in fact, it was alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan gave a certain amount to the body. What is your take on that?
Well, this meeting is not about CAN and its leadership. Somethings are not meant for the pages of newspapers. No doubt, there are internal issues within the association but I don’t think this is the right place to discuss that. We will sit within ourselves after the election to iron out things.
What message do you have for Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as he prepares to take on the mantle of leadership on the 29th of May?
Well, firstly I must commend the president-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari for being such a rugged and tireless fighter. Once, twice and thrice he was beaten and he never gave up. I think that is quiet commendable. He never gave up because of the passion he has for his fatherland and this is the result we are seeing today.
Talking about what he should do when he assumes power, he should be the father the nation. Nigerians need a man who can bear their burden. He should carry everybody along. I want to assure him that the Christian body is not against his government and will never. We have been praying for him and we will continue to pray for him that God should uphold and give him wisdom on how to govern this nation.
Secondly, the incoming president should tackle corruption. This has been a serious canker-worm eating deep into our economy. He should wipe out corruption from Nigeria. That should be his primary assignment.
The vice president-elect, Prof Yemi Osinbajo is a pastor with one of the Pentecostal churches in the country, what is your take on men of God going into politics.
Gone are the days when we see politics as a dirty game. There’s nothing wrong with men of God going into politics. If you have a good intention and not selfish interest, why not. But we should always try to shift away our personal interest from the things of God. As an apostle of the Most High, if you look at yourself very well and you think you can affect lives positively through politics, go ahead but don’t say God called you when you know he didn’t. Going into politics is not a crime but it is the motive behind it?
Before the election, several prophecies were made; some men of God claimed Buhari will never win while others say Jonathan will be defeated, but you did not say anything along that line. Why?
Yes, God still speaks but we should always try to remove personal thoughts from prophecies. I am not in a position to judge whoever missed or got it right but my major concern is: don’t speak when God has not spoken. However, any key cleric in the country would attest to the fact that what happened in Nigeria after the election was exactly what we had predicted sometimes ago. When the prophecy came, we informed some men of God and we kept praying for the country. For the fact that we don’t put our prophecies on the pages of newspapers does not mean God no longer speaks.
So what is your prophecy about the incoming government?
All I can say now is that all will be well. It is well with Nigeria.
I learnt your ministry is about to float a university; what is your take on the issue of church-owned institution not being affordable for church members?
Well, actually our university is kicking off anytime soon. If you look at the money some people pay outside the country for university education, you won’t complain. It is not easy to run a private institution because of the expenses involved. We have spent over 2 billion naira and we are not halfway done. To run a private university in this country, you must know that you are not going to make even a dime in the first three years.
What is your plan for the underprivileged people in your church since not all of them that can afford the fee?
There’s a scholarship scheme that takes care of that because we agree that all hands are not equal. Our scholarship scheme will take care of such people.
Sir, you live an easy-going life, what is the secret?
There’s no secret about that. This is me and I can’t act what I am not. Must I carry a convoy of 500 people before I am heard? See, if you have a picture of what heaven is all about, the things of this world will irritate you. What if after making all the noise in this world you fail to make heaven on the last day? Is that not shameful? I love to be known in heaven than the earth.
What is your take on the coming governorship election?
I want to appeal to all the contestants to follow the footprints of President Jonathan. Politics shouldn’t be a do or die affair. Jonathan has laid the foundation and we should build on that. I am using this opportunity to call on all the aspirants to imbibe the spirit of statesmanship. Both the winner and the loser should congratulate themselves. We are all working for the progress of our nation.
Thank you very much for your time
You are welcome. God bless you
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