- Speaks On His Life @ 70
Special Apostle Prophet (Dr.) S.A. Aransiola (JP) is many things rolled into one. He is a man of God who runs Cherubim & Seraphim Movement Church (Agbala Iwosan) Ayo Ni O, 14 Takuro Street, Idi-Araba, near LUTH Gate, Lagos. He is also a veteran boxer and coach. He was also a soldier for many years before he retired to join the National Sports Commission as a Coach.
The big news is that papa who is the father of popular Juju Musician, Seun Aransiola, turned 70 a few days ago and he had a Birthday & Thanksgiving Service at his Idi-Araba Church in Lagos. A few days after, he spoke to City People Publisher, SEYE KEHINDE and Senior Assistant Editor SUNDAY ADIGUN about his life and the several challenges he has been faced with. Below are excerpts of the interview.
How do you feel @ 70?
Well, I thank God for what he has done in my life, celebrating 70 years of my life. It is something that I cherish and I thank God for it, I have seen a lot, I have faced a lot of difficulties in life, but I thank God and I know that the Lord that made me to clock 70 will make me clock 80. So I thank him for what he has done in my life.
Can you tell us the challenges you have faced in the last 70 years?
Around 19 years of age I joined the Army, I spent 15 years in the army, they gave 2 years bonus, so all together 17 year in the army. I worked for national corp commission and the army sent on coaching course. I spent 7-9 months there. Then I got my diploma, from there they sent me for another course in Germany. When I was in Germany, I was the Army Champion, I was the National Champion, I represented Nigeria, I won boxing championship, that was 1974. I won Silver Medal, 1975 the same time I won Gold Medal in USA, then I also won Bronze from USA. So coming back I represented the Army at the National World Boxing Championship though I lost in semi-final but I still remained Nigeria Army’s Boxing coach that was 1980, I was given an appointment after that, I did my best when I was posted from Lagos to Ibadan and from Ibadan to Ijebu Ode. Later I returned from Ijebu Ode, I retired in 1983, after retirement, I was employed as an Assistant coach to a technical adviser from Bulgaria. He told me specifically, that he’s going to help me because I was a good apprentice. I learnt a lot from him and I never regretted it and before I retired from there I was given an award as the most disciplined boxing coach in Africa. I was so happy and I thank God for what he has done for me.
But daddy, why Boxing. Why didn’t you go for something else?
I am a Covenant Child, nobody taught me boxing, holy spirit did, holy spirit always gives me an instruction every morning by 5am to run, I run nothing less than 5-6km for 1hrs, I would come back 6am, sleep for another 1hr, by 7am I would wake up again and take my bath. They taught me how to use my fist, how to guide and how to punch, so I usually knocked anyone that is stubborn around me and people came to learn from me, I taught them rudiment of boxing. But the fact is I was in the wilderness for 42 years.
Why sir?
What I usually do when I travel, I go on fasting and prayer that I want my boy to win, I don’t sleep at night, and I really thank my wife. She is not only my wife, she’s my mother. She contributed a lot when I was in the Army. When I was in National Sport Commission, she took care of the home, she gave me rest of mind even when I travelled.
How long have you been married to her?
We got married 45 years ago.
Tell us about her sir?
She’s trust worthy. Most of the time when I travel, she will take care of my children and let me tell you, the secret of marriage is prayer. I always pray to God and he answered my prayer, God gave that command, he gave that power like that of Samson in the bible, that’s why whenever they call me Samson I always do extra ordinary.
Can you tell us the story of the church?
It was my father that founded the church, his name is late Micheal Olawale Aransiola. By the time he was about to die, we were at Sabo, then he called me before the congregation when service was going on, he said “my son, I entrust the authority of the church into your hand, the Lord God will help you to carry the load in the name of God the father, the son and the Holy spirit” and everybody shouted Amen. The third day my father died, that was how I faced the ministry, and it has been so easy for us. I have never encounter any difficult in ministry up till now, and I thank God for what he has been doing and I also thank God for the children he has given to me, they are all doing well by the grace of God. Some are outside Nigeria, some are here doing well, my last born finished from a University in Ghana, they all make me happy.
The day you turned 70, what went through your mind?
I was happy, and I was praying to God to give me the privilege to clock 80 and I told God that I don’t want to see any bad thing. I don’t want to hear any bad news concerning my home, my family, my wife, my children and my grand children. I told God Banana will never suffer before it becomes soft, and I said to God whenever I die, let me see you.
Were you born in white garment church?
Yes. I was born into white garment church. My father was so proud of me because I’m his only male, though I have sisters ahead of me. It was predicted before that He cannot have a male child but later 3 angels appeared to him physically when my mother was pregnant, they demanded for money and my daddy gave it to them and they prayed for my dad and the following month they delivered me. Before then my daddy said he made a covenant with God that if He gives him male, he’s going to dedicate me to the work of God and that was why he surrendered everything to me when he was about to die and the covenant was so strong to the extent that when I ran to America because I didn’t want do the work. I didn’t know how I left America until I saw myself at Muritala Mohammed International Airport and since then he had been mentoring me, praying for me, my mother also prayed for me before she died.
Quote:
“I am a Covenant Child, nobody taught me boxing, holy spirit did, holy spirit always gives me an instruction every morning by 5am to run, I run nothing less than 5-6km for 1hrs”
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