‘God wants to use
Obasanjo, but he is not ready’
By Yetunde Oladeinde
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
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•Rev.
Joe Adeyemi
Photo: Sun News Publishing |
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He is in his 60s, yet he tells you that he has a burden over
the issue of corruption in our dear country.
Rev Joe Adeyemi prays very fervently for Nigeria. He says
that when President Olusegun Obasanjo came into office in
1999, he thought corruption would soon be a thing of the past.
"Immediately he was made president he talked about corruption
and I was so happy. Then God laid in my heart a vision to
write a book, which I entitled: Anti-corruption: Way forward
for Nigeria. I singled him out for prayers that he should
be used to champion anti-corruption in the land", Adeyemi
recalls
But two years later, Adeyemi noticed that Obasanjo was not
doing what he should do. "He was not as active as the
Lord wanted him to be. In year 2003, I wrote him again and
invited him to the launch of my book on anti-corruption but
again there was no reply. "
Adeyemi says he did not give up on his prayers for the nation
and Mr. president. "Then a few weeks ago while I was
going for pastoral mission, I bought a newspaper and saw something
of interest. Date was 19th June 2004 and that same day 42
years ago God gave me the biggest miracle in my life. So,
I knew God wanted to do something new."
He saw an article on the front page credited to President
Obasanjo, saying: "It is difficult to fight corruption.”
When I saw this, God began to talk to me. A particular line
where he referred to the high and low, your friend and those
you respect kept on coming to my mind. I was angry and I saw
him sympathizing with those who are corrupt in the land. God
is no respecter of persons", Adeyemi warns.
Journey into the Ministry
God called me in 1987. Then I was a building contractor. I
studied Structural Engineering at the Hammersmith and Brixton
School of Building in South West London. I travelled out of
the country in 1962 and came back in 1973. In between this
period, I was coming home. I went into full time ministry
after getting my doctorate in Theology at the Faith Bible
College, Otta.
Early life
On June 27, 1962 I travelled to London. I wasn't expecting
this to happen but within a week everything was arranged.
When I was about to travel, Lufthansa Airlines had just been
introduced to Nigeria. They did, "You too can fly",
campaigns and while taking their shots, I later discovered
that I was in the background of the picture used. Yusuf Oladele,
one of my brothers was a press photographer in Daily Times.
He sent my shots and it was used in the Sunday paper of Daily
Times.
As a young man I worked at Sanatana Courts in Tinubu. When
the Magistrate was coming in, he would signal to me and I
would say court stand. The people would rise and the magistrate
would enter. It was very interesting and I was there for about
six months. I had just finished my O levels at Imade in Owo,
Ondo, under the Western Region.
Once the accused is brought in from the Black Maria, I will
administer the oath on them. That experience made me fear
God. On the job, I met some women and girls who needed one
assistance or the other. We had two charge and bail lawyers
that I used to refer them to and they always came back to
say thank you. On the same Kakawa street was the passport
office and I had a junior there. So, I used to write notes
for those who wanted passports and within two weeks they got
it and came to say thank you. I left for London at the age
of 20.
Obasanjo and corruption
I wrote to Obasanjo in 2001 and 2002. In 2001, I wrote to
him about the state of corruption in the country. The problem
of Nigeria is rooted in corruption and the second is appetite.
There is so much lust in the land. You see old men going to
campus to pick girls that should be their daughter’s
mate. The third part of corruption is greed, while the fourth
part is unholy alliance. That is what we have in secret societies
where all the big people belong. God wants to use Obasanjo
but he is not ready. If he is not ready God would not force
him and I disagree with him that it is difficult to fight
corruption. The corruption law he made is just paper work.
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