Pendulum : Prophet TB Joshua and the Journey to Nazareth By Dele Momodu

Fellow Nigerians, let me say how delighted I feel right now that
I made the trip to Israel this past week. Israel is not new to me
just like I’m not new to Israel. In addition, I have good friends
from that small, but extremely powerful nation. I will return to
that shortly, as this trip was full of drama.

Let’s begin with Act 1, Scene 1. I had no intention of heading
to Israel at this time, my studies in Oxford and a couple of
projects in Nigeria and Ghana meant that travelling to that side of
the world was not in my consciousness at all. However, God must
have planned the journey without my knowledge. The trip dropped
itself on my laps without warning.

I had received a call from one of the most prayerful and
extremely benevolent women of God, Reverend Mother Abimbola Esther
Ajayi, popularly known by her moniker, Iya Adura, who incidentally
had invited and taken me to Jerusalem, between 2017 and 2018. On
the trip I got introduced to a very efficient tour operator,
Shadia, who took good care of all of us.

The call from Iya Adura, with whom I talk almost daily on
several issues, this time was at the instance of Shadia who wanted
an introduction and recommendation to the incredibly popular
Prophet, Temitope Balogun Joshua (T.B. Joshua), who has been a
long-time friend and Brother of mine. Iya Adura apparently told
Shadia she has no contact for or association with T. B Joshua but
mentioned my name as one person that can definitely reach Prophet
T. B Joshua who happens to be one of the most sought-after human
beings in Africa, and beyond. So, Mama called, and I swung into
action immediately.

I started by calling all the numbers I had for Prophet T. B
Joshua but couldn’t reach him directly. I left messages but got no
instant response. However, two days later he sent a text that he’d
also been trying my numbers in Nigeria, Ghana and the United
Kingdom since the day before upon seeing my calls and messages. I
obviously did not recognize the number he was calling from and I
did not get to reply immediately. I quickly called him, and we
spoke with our usual conviviality. I told him the reason I wanted
to speak to him, and he requested for Shadia’s number with
automatic alacrity and promised to reach out to her instantly. I
felt greatly honoured that such an incredibly busy man could accord
me such respect. To my utter amazement, I confirmed from Shadia
minutes later that he reached out to her as promised.

I thought that was all. My introduction and task were over, I
withdrew into my shell, but it was not to be for long. Days later,
I got a call from Prophet T. B Joshua asking me to join him on his
trip to Nazareth for a powerful crusade. There was no way I could
have said no to him. I immediately accepted his invitation. I
promised to travel from London to Israel as I had to return to the
University of Oxford where I have been on Fellowship. He promised
to call back and we spoke a few more times before the journey.

Act 1, Scene 2. All was set and I seriously looked forward to
visiting the birthplace of our Lord Jesus Christ. On the day of
travel, I arrived London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 early, as I
always do. I hate to arrive late to the airport like some people do
and start rushing and panting. The best part of the journey for me
is exhaustively making use of the lounges of airlines like
Emirates, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways. You can do with a
bit of pampering before you fly. Well, at least I can! On this
occasion, I was flying with British Airways and once through the
departure formalities I promptly went into the Concorde Lounge and
buried myself into the sheer luxury that the it has to offer.

After leaving the lounge on this special day, I boarded my
flight early and settled down comfortably in my seat. Then a
message flew in from my cousin that there were reports of possible
trouble for Prophet T. B Joshua in Nazareth. I opened the link and
there were tales of different groups including Christians, Rabbis
and Muslims, objecting seriously to the planned crusade by T. B
Joshua. I foresaw an apocalypse ahead but knowing myself well
enough, I was actually energized and more determined to witness
whatever would happen on the day. Journalists are like soldiers; we
love and revel in action and the big news.

I landed in Tel Aviv late evening of June 21, 2019, but due to
the long walk to Immigration desks and the queues, I only managed
to pick my bags past midnight and arrived the Ramada Hotel, in
Nazareth, at a time most normal people were fast asleep and
probably snoring away. Throughout my taxi drive to Nazareth, I was
on the lookout for any sign of trouble but saw none at all. The
events were billed to start on June 23 and end on June 24. I went
to bed dog-tired and barely struggled to wake up for breakfast at
about 10a.m.

Not much happened until D-Day, June 23. There was palpable
tension because of the negative news that had gone viral. Will the
crusade go on or not was the million-dollar question on every lip?
But the organizers were unperturbed. They went about their duty
with every sense of purpose and responsibility. Nothing was left to
chance. Security was top of the agenda. They were determined not to
let anyone come to constitute a nuisance. On a regular day, Israel
never jokes with Security not to talk of an unusual day such as
this.

You must give it to T. B Joshua, he meticulously executed this
project. His team was just superb. The attendees came from
different parts of the world. Wow, we seem to underrate T. B Joshua
back home. Without sounding profane, he is regarded and treated
like a supernatural being in Israel. He is adored and worshipped
with great fervour indeed. When I landed at Tel Aviv airport,
several people asked me with admiration and enthusiasm if I had
come for T. B Joshua’s program. I was so proud that a fellow
Nigerian has succeeded in capturing the imagination of this part of
the world in this manner.

Act 1, Scene 3. The event started slowly at about 4pm with some
soul-lifting and stirring music by the choir assembled as a
potpourri of Arabs and Africans. It came to a crescendo when T. B
Joshua came in humbly, but powerfully, in his usual garb of shirt
and trousers. He looked so majestic and mercurial even in his
simplicity. He climbed the stage and grabbed the microphone and the
audience roared as he began to teach like a true follower of Christ
and the Holy Bible that he is. His theme for this first session was
about love and he quoted copiously about love from the holy book to
the excitement and adulation of the throngs of people massed and
gathered to watch, listen and worship with him. He told them to
love those who hate and despise them, no matter how difficult that
seems.

His opening words were dramatic and foreshadowed the intense
passion that was to follow. “My name is T. B Joshua. Some people
call me Prophet. Some call me Pastor… They have given me different
titles, but all I know is that my name is T. B Joshua. That is
enough for me…” The crowd went wild in ecstatic jubilation at the
simplicity of his introduction of his person. After a few minutes,
the prophet came down and came out to be closer and interact with
his followers. Miracle seekers had jammed the place in droves. They
came from far and near, with all manner of challenges and
disabilities. The Prophet who obviously was used to this was
unruffled. He told them to have faith in the power of Jesus Christ
to deliver them from all evil. He told them all diseases are the
handiwork of the devil, but that the Lord, being a merciful, loving
and benevolent God would come down to heal them, provided they
believed in God as their Lord and Saviour.

Then they were lined up in rows and the Prophet started laying
hands on them. Even before touching some of them, they were already
reacting with spasms and seemed to be under the control and
influence of some supernatural being. He started touching them, and
some fell down, some screamed, some rolled on the floor and some
did a combination of these things. Some were thanking God for
healing them instantly. Some begged him to have mercy on them. T. B
Joshua has totally matured into his evangelical work. It was
wonderful and inspiring watching him at work. Meanwhile, his wife,
Lady Evelyn, stood solidly behind him like the Rock of Gibraltar
and assisted as required. The event ended at about 9p.m without any
hitch. The Prophet of the Lord, T. B. Joshua performed miracles and
touched hundreds of devotees during the event. The event was simply
epochal, and I felt truly privileged to have been a part of it.

Act 2, Scene 1. The second day came and followed the same
pattern. In his preaching, T. B Joshua revealed how he had visited
Mount Precipice three years ago and was shocked to find the place
overgrown with weeds. He had promised at the time to turn the place
around and make it into an Eldorado. He showed the video of how
desolate and forlorn the place looked at the time. True to his
word, T. B. Joshua has radically changed and altered the place and
its environment, turning it into a magnificent and powerful
amphitheatre for the worship of God. In doing this, he has not only
built a testament to the glory of God, he has created direct and
indirect employment for hundreds of people and become a wealth
creator and facilitator for this little historical and biblical
part of Nazareth, as most of Nazareth is. Indeed, it is no longer a
site of rejection as the Bible tells us but a site of regeneration
and hope. Pope Benedict who worshipped there with more than 40,000
people would be glad to see that today, T B Joshua has restored
this monument to the glory that it should have and more
besides.

In the course of our visit, I was invited to his office, he had
many rooms and tents all over the mountain and wherever I went to I
saw the awesome work and wonder of the Man of God. We discussed the
magnitude of his work for a few minutes before I departed to the
hotel. I left with a better picture and appreciation of a T. B
Joshua to whom we don’t seem to give enough respect at home. With
what I saw, heard and learnt, I have come to believe that he has
suffered too many unjustified insults and tribulations back
home.

My take is that religion is a voluntary act. Joshua has never
forced anyone to worship with him against that person’s wish or to
attend his Synagogue by compulsion. He has not coerced anyone into
seeking to receive the miracles he professes to bring to people on
behalf of God. Let me say, emphatically, that as far as I am
concerned, he is the single biggest tourism attraction in Lagos. I
expect Lagos State Government to tap into this goldmine by
collaborating with Joshua and turning the roads leading to his
place of worship into well maintained expressways. That is what
Joshua himself has done in Mount Precipice, but laws, envy, lack of
understanding and comprehension as well as the capriciousness of
our leaders have made it impossible for him to replicate this feat
in his own backyard. This is what would have happened in other
climes.

If what I witnessed in Nazareth is anything to judge by, T. B
Joshua has become a religious prodigy and icon. My taxi drivers in
Nazareth swore by his name. I became a star myself by dropping his
name. The newspapers were agog with the news of our Man of God as
he spread the gospel at this unique and spectacular event. T B
Joshua made me proud to be a Nigerian. It is not all gloom and
doom.

I thank God on his behalf…

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FG replace Old yellow Card with e-Version
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced its plan to phase
out completely, all old versions of Yellow card and a new e-Yellow
card has been put in place in its stead with effect from July 1st,
2019.

Making the announcement in his office, in Abuja, the Permanent
Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Abdulaziz Mashi
Abdullahi, revealed that the new Card has enhanced security
features that could be verified anywhere in the world by scanning
the bar code or checking the card number on the Yellow Card
portal..

The introduction of the new e- Yellow Card, otherwise known as
International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), is
to address the issue of fake Yellow cards which has hitherto,
constituted a source of national embarrassment.

Mr. Abdullahi stressed that with effect from July 1st 2019, the
new e- Yellow card would be the only valid documented proof of
vaccination against yellow fever.

Highlighting on the importance of the yellow fever vaccine for
which the yellow card is documented for, the Permanent Secretary
said that Yellow fever, a viral haemorrhagic fever, caused by a
virus transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito is a potentially
fatal illness but vaccine preventable.

Mr. Abdullahi, noted that some countries, including Nigeria were
endemic for yellow fever, as such, travellers to affected (endemic)
countries were at risk of exposure to infection by the yellow fever
virus; hence, the mandatory vaccination against the disease.

To this end, the Permanent Secretary informed that according to
the World Health Organisation’s(WHO), recommendation, all
international travellers, nine months of age and above, who were
visiting Nigeria must be vaccinated against yellow fever.

Also, additional measures have been adopted at points of entry
for the prevention and control of yellow fever, which involves
mandatory requirement of evidence of vaccination against Yellow
fever on arrival in Nigeria, Mr. Abdullahi added..

He further noted that some countries also require evidence of
vaccination against yellow fever as a condition for entry.

He stressed that from 1st July 2019, travellers arriving Nigeria
without proof of Yellow Fever vaccination would be vaccinated with
the yellow fever vaccine at points of entry and issued the Card,
after payment.

The Permanent Secretary therefore enjoined the travelling public
to cooperate with the Ministry through Port Health Services
Division, to prevent and control cross-border transmission of
yellow fever by complying with laid down measures at points of
entry and obtaining their e- Yellow Cards from the Division.

This makes us all a part of the global coalition/movement to
eliminate yellow fever epidemics by 2026, Mr. Abdullahi
asserted.

Boade Akinola,

Director, Media and Public Relations