Talk of a Church in Lagos today where celebrities and high profile personalities in Nigeria troop in to worship God, it is Genesis Church.
Prophet Isreal Oladele, popularly known as Genesis, is the founder of Genesis Church. It’s a popular Celestial Church in Lagos. His church has witnessed rapid growth in recent times. Recently, he acquired another land in the Isheri area of Lagos. This man of God has become renowned for his accurate predictions. The Prophet is from a humble background and his name today has become a household name in Lagos and beyond.
Four years ago, he predicted that Otunba Gani Adams will be the next Aare Ona-Kakanfo of Yorubaland. His encounter with the OPC leader is a very interesting story. Last week, he told City People’s ISAAC ABIMBADE how he got to know Gani Adams. He also reveals a lot about the man and what his reign as Aare Ona-Kakanfo would bring to Yoruba race. Below are excerpts of the interview.
Can you tell us the relationship between you and Otunba Gani Adams?
I met Otunba Gani Adams 4 years ago when I had a book launch. He came for my book launch at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. The title of the book is Unstoppable. He was there with many people. I invited a lot of people. A member of my church invited him (Gani Adams). I had never met him before that time. And during the book launch which he launched; he was really happy about the book.
The book has got to do with teaching people how to be unstoppable in whatever they do according to their mentality and the way they think. Four things he mentioned that he liked when I was talking about the book has got to do with Attitude, Action, Believe system and Passion. So, he launched the book on that day with about 500,000 naira. And I deemed it right to go and appreciate him for what he did. So, I went to his office in Palmgroove, Lagos. Because my father taught me that the more you humble yourself, the more you go far in life. I never just wanted to appreciate him on phone or sending him a text message. He didn’t know me before he came; he came and stayed althrough the course of the launch. So many people like that also came.
Was he officially invited?
He was invited by a member of our church; I wouldn’t know the relationship he had with ‘them’. And he was so nice. He greeted me well. My perception about OPC is that, anybody that is doing that must have charms all around his body. So, when I saw him, he was just a simple person.
So, I was so amazed the way he spoke that day; he encouraged people and he told them that there is nothing that is too hard for you to achieve in life if you are optimistic. And when someone is creative in his words, I love and appreciate them. So, I actually went to his office to appreciate him for being part of the book launch.
How did you feel and what came to your mind the first day you saw him at your book launch?
It wasn’t a church program; it was a book launch. I have heard a lot about OPC. So, when I saw him I thought I would see him with ‘rugged people’ carrying charms. But he was just wearing a white lace. He was cool, simple and he wasn’t with anything. Seye Kehinde too was there that day. Some people I invited from London, from US, we sat together and in fairness that was the first time I met him.
You are the only one (Prophet) who predicted that Otunba Gani Adams would become the next Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland. How were you able to do that?
I was in his office; I greeted him, appreciated him. So, as I was about going, I said let us pray. After praying, God told me so many things about him, about his life; some of the things he should be expecting. And God told me that there is a great seat that has got to do with leading the Yoruba race. He said, would that happen? I said if truly I am a Prophet of God that all eyes would be on him. I didn’t even know about Aare Onakakanfo. He asked if it was going to be a King’s seat, I said no! But all Kings will have to look up to him; that it’s a thing that would make him lead all the Yoruba of which, if you are to look at that, that is the Aare Onakakanfo. He never asked me, he never begged for it. He never said would I be Aare Onakakanfo?
He never asked me! The description was just ‘leading the Yoruba warriors’ all over the world. I also gave him other prophesy and later I got his contact, and we never met since then until ‘recently’. Some of the prophesies I told him came to pass the following week. And he was baffled. And I don’t ask people to give me money or buy this or that because I give them prophesy. I speak the voice of God and that’s all. If God doesn’t tell me anything, I keep quiet.
A while ago, he told me that he had been nominated among other people for the post of Aare Onakakanfo. So, I told him if it was the same thing that God showed me that it would come to reality and he said wow; that if it comes to reality he would come here for thanksgiving. Sometimes when God wants to put somebody in a place of greatness, He doesn’t require age; what it entails is grace. You can be age mates with people but you can’t be ‘grace mate’.
It’s not about Money, Connection of power, it’s about grace. When grace is available, mercy will be evident. So, I didn’t know anything since then, until recently he sent an invitation to me that he would be doing a coronation. When it comes to crowd of such, I am always sceptical. But I am a lion when it comes to crusade or revival. I am not always scared about revival. So, when I got there; I was putting on ‘agbada outfit’. I am a kind of person that obeys God’s instruction.
I don’t go where He doesn’t want me to go. I met so many pastors there too. There are lots of Pastors I met there and I was able to sit down with so many governors; the likes of Governor Ajimobi. The former Governor of Ondo State, Mimiko, was present. After the coronation I left for Lagos.
Few days after the coronation, he just sent me a message to appreciate my coming and all that. And he also told me he would be coming to our church for thanksgiving and it will be coming next Sunday.
How did you react to that?
I just felt this man is humble; he is not an ingrate. He didn’t mind if he was an OPC leader or not. There are many churches he must have known. There are many churches on the Island and so many pastors he must have been with, why would he just decide to come over to do thanksgiving in our church. I just called all our church elders; I asked them what they think about it and they all responded its okay.
They said as long as he is coming to appreciate God, let him come. I have never collected money from him. I have never charged him. So later, I saw designed pictures of him coming for thanksgiving and before I knew it, it started flowing all over the internet and noise was everywhere.
How do you see his reign as Aare Onakakanfo?
I believe God will use him to bring love. Because he is a man of understanding and he is selfless. If he’s a rigid or a selfish person, I may not even talk about him. He is selfless and humble. I have read a lot of interviews about him and how he has been able to establish his love among Yorubas; that Yorubas in the diaspora should be successful.
After my launching or before my launching I heard he went back to school. I realised he is a man that has never allowed his history to affect his destiny. He went back to school and he started upgrading himself. I think and I know that God will help him to fulfill what God has established him for.
What is your own view on Nigerian political system and generally, what should we expect or be looking forward to this year?
I am always a positive prophet. I have heard so many negative things but sometimes on my own, I go on my knees to pray that God, even if there’s any evil thing coming upon this country, turn it to good. This is our country. There is no where we can run to. There is no essence in saying Fulani will kill this, this one will kill this. Can’t we use prayers to change it? If there is trouble/crisis between the Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo, where two elephants fight, the grass there will suffer. So, on my own, I try so many times to pray that God should use this season to be the season of our restoration.
I am so positive about it that 2018 will be the year of visitation; that God is really going to visit our country and have mercy on the less provileged and will have mercy on those crawling and are yet to fly. It is going to be the year where many people will be exposed in the government. It is going to be the year of visitation, where people would be paid back on the evils they have done.
Send Us News, Gist, more... to citypeopleng@gmail.com | Twitter: @CitypeopleMagz
