Pastor Leke Adeboye is the Senior Personal assistant to the International General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye.
He is very energetic, versatile and spirit-filled hence his involvement in other extra activities at RCCG. He possesses 2 degrees from 2 different English Universities. He has a first degree in Aerospace Technology and Engineering from the University of Hertfordshire and a Masters degree in Engineering from University of Bournemouth.
In this interview with City People’s Reporter, FEMI FABUNMI, he speaks about life as Pastor E.A. Adeboye’s last son, his pastoral and Senior Personal Assistant Duties among other sundry issues. Excerpts below.
Growing up, how did you view Pastor E.A. Adeboye did you see him as a pastor or as your daddy?
By the time I came into the family he was already a pastor, he started as a Deacon and later Assistant Pastor, basically, he was preoccupied with the work of God.
Daddy is a fantastic man, he continues to show us examples of how to live good and righteous life and also how to be good men and women.
He always has time for the family regardless of his demanding job.
Was he strict?
Well the Bible already gave guidelines to parents. God direct parents to put their children through in life. He trained us in the way we should go.
Were you ever judged or rated because you are Pastor Adeboye’s son?
Yes that is standard, some would even tell you that you shouldn’t behave in some certain ways, some would say that you shouldn’t talk the way you talk. It is like that. When we started living here (at Redeemed Camp Ground) there was no light, no network, no television we were cut-off from the whole world. We had to create our own ideas and innovation and as time went by and daddy became more popular, people started to judge us based on the fact that he is our father.
That’s standard because ordinarily people would judge a lawyer’s son or daughter based on what the father/mother is, same goes for us daddy’s children. For example during NYSC, anytime one of our leaders ask someone to pray everybody will point at me saying Pastor Adeboye’s son please pray for us.
Pastor Adeboye is loved by everybody but there are few haters, how do you handle them?
One thing is sure, if you don’t have haters it shows you are not gifted or talented enough, it shows that person is not doing something positive to some group of people. Don’t be surprised that some pastors in some ministries might not be happy that Pastor Adeboye is loved by many. Regardless, Pastor Adeboye remains humble, his job is to gain souls for Christ. Sure the devil will definitely not like him. We also have some reporters and OAP who don’t have something good to say about him.
There is a lady now who has been trying to say something negative just for her social media gain. They know that if they pick on anybody that is popular they will gain more readership or viewership.
How did you feel when the news went viral that Pastor Adeboye retired?
I am not suppose to comment offically on this, but unofficially I will comment. He made the announcement to all of us at the same time.
How did you feel?
I just said thank God, it means we have to face some other things in other places around the world. People in other places of the world deserve to hear the word of God.
How did you rise to become Senior Personal Assistant to Pastor Adeboye?
Unknown to many I was subjected to a rigorous interview exercise. Most people don’t know I studied Aerospace Technology and Engineering from University of Hertfordshire United Kingdom, while I did my masters in Engineering at the University of Bournermouth.
Many times I will wake up in the middle of the night and hear a voice saying I should be working for God, I decided to come back and work for God.
Let me say I didn’t get the position on a platter of Gold. I was made to go through an 8 hour interview, when I came out I was sweating. Truth is I am not enjoying any special benefits. I was placed on the exact salary that is accrued to the position. I was put on probation for a year and half, ordinarily it should be for just 6 months.
What is the relationship like with Pastor Adeboye’s wife?
She is my mum, mother and son relationship still exist between us. She is a definition of a good mother, she is a philantropist too. She has a project where children roaming about are picked up and housed. She also has plans to extend it outside the country.
She has raised us right, she possesses a doctorate degree, a lot of people don’t know that, they assume it is just Pastor Adeboye that has Ph.D she was a teacher too, she gave up all these just to do the work of God.
Of all Pastor Adeboye’s children, you seem to be the favourite?
That’s not true, everybody is daddy’s favourite. The first born is Pastor Adeolu Adeboye, he runs “Apparel” a fashion outfit in Nigeria, he started from England and now have branches across Nigeria. He is also into construction, likewise he is also in team Nehemiah, a group that ensures organisational vehicular and human movement in and around the camp area. He is also a full-time Pastor in between all of these. I have another brother who runs some other activities in the church he is Oluwadamilare Adeboye. Probably they feel that I am the most troublesome so they want to keep me closer.
I have a sister too who is a pastor she is based in America. She helps run Mummy G.O.’s group known as wives of General Overseer, she runs the North America Faction.
If you weren’t a Pastor what would you have become?
Seriously I am not a full pastor, I am just an Assistant Pastor. I just want to do the work of God.
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