How did the ministry begin?
It started when I was in the military, with the then
Colonel D.O. Ajayi. I was posted to the Nigerian
Army engineer in Kaduna in 1974, because my
boss, the senior late Ya’radua, General Buhari, and
three others went on course to the United States
of America (USA). I would say the birth of my
ministry was the main reason I was posted to
Kaduna, because at the time, Southerners didn’t
really like to be posted to the North and vice
versa. I was even advised to bribe the clerk not to
post me to the North, but I refused to do that. I
thank God that I followed my heart by insisting on
the posting. I was there from 1974 till 1976. We
started singing in the church in 1975 and in the
military, we didn’t constitute a choir. However, we
sang a song at the CAC, Kaawo which went thus:
‘Akuku yewa oo Akuku yewa oo, baye gbogun be
esu di te Jesu onigba, akuku yewa oo…’ which
was widely accepted by people and became a
slogan around January and February 1976.
Gradually, the group took off and some elders,
who loved what God was doing through us
advised us to be careful to prevent sanctions. We
were placed under watch and the elders
eventually discovered that the ministry was real
and they decided to pray for us, when five people
joined me, and that was how we started the
Ayewa group professionally.
Later in December 26 that same year I had a call
that stated that I had been posted to Lagos. My
boss requested for me when he returned from the
US; I left Kaduna and I worked with him for seven
of my little-over-14 years’ experience in the army.
In fact, the group was blessed and approved in my
absence, because I left immediately I was posted
to Lagos. Afterwards, precisely in 1978, my
boss’s friend, Pastor Peter, who came on
visitation, fell in love with some of the songs I
played. He asked whether I had heard about the
Good Women Choir in Ibadan, noting that the
Ayewa group was not different from what the
Good Women were doing. He encouraged me to
do a record and I told him that would not be
possible, since I was in the military. He eventually
told my boss. As God would have it, what I
thought would be impossible, was made easy, as
my boss gave me a four-day break to do a record
with other members of the group who had come
from Kaduna to Lagos for the recording.
You spent 15 years in the military; what was the
experience like?
Honestly, the military experience changed my
entire life to the extent, such that I still see myself
as very young and active, in spite of the fact that I
am above 60. I still love and respect the military,
because I gained a lot during my service,
especially in the area of discipline. You don’t talk
anyhow as a military man. We love and respect
one another, as well as live in harmony.
Irrespective of time and chance, the principles and
responsibilities of the military will continue to
stand. Though, I have left the army, I am still in
the army, because I still relate with the military
directly or indirectly. I can tell you authoritatively
that nothing, even coup, can take place in this
country except solid retired military men know
about it. These are intelligent people, who would
pretend as if they knew nothing about what would
happen. Personally, I don’t believe in coup and I
don’t pray for it. I believe the way we are moving
on as a democratic country is better. I don’t see a
coup succeeding in Nigeria again, because it is
not the will of God. Despite the fact that I am now
a prophet, I still maintain military tactics, which is
one of the reasons I don’t talk anyhow.
As a prophet, you have a duty to share
revelations. How does that align with your military
stance?
You are right, but I am always diplomatic with
what God reveals to me and that is why I chose
that prophetic style of singing. I usually use
wisdom to share revelations, because God can
change His mind anytime. This is why some
clerics are seen as fake pastors or prophets. I am
always very careful with revelations. It is painful
that some men of God can’t differentiate from the
words of the Holy Spirit and God’s revelation. I
prefer to pray over situations or persons God
reveals to me than making it public or calling
people’s attention to it, because God particularly
revealed the secret to me. I would not deliver
revelations for financial gain. I believe so much in
my integrity and, so far, God has been rewarding
me, even beyond my imagination.
When did you receive the call of prophecy?
It was in the military, though I had been receiving
some revelations about it for a very long time. I
could remember that Baba Abiye, whom I love so
much also told me one fateful day in 1978 that I
could not escape doing God’s work, as he put it. I
laughed and didn’t take it seriously. I never
envisaged that I would finally find myself in the
vineyard, because I felt that I was comfortable as
a military man. However, the pressure was so
much in 1982 that I had no choice but to do the
will of God, even when I was considering
completing my 15 years in the service. A prophet
told me to fast for three days because I was
afraid to tell my boss that I was leaving the army.
I did accordingly and on the last day when we
returned to Kuru, Yar’Adua, who was a close
friend to my boss, came to visit him and later left
late in the night. Afterwards, I summoned courage
and went to him, knelt before him and told him
that I wanted to leave the army for the work of
God. To my surprise, he did not contradict my
decision, but instead, encouraged and assisted
me till I left the army in 1983.
You’re a prophet, pastor, and a musician. How do
you create a balance?
It has been the grace of God, but I feel the military
experience still helps me. I was also very
determined to do the will of God. I was used to
praying on the mountain, before I embraced my
calling as a musician. I thank God for grace even
in old age. I wake up at 3am every day to thank
God, since the moment I discovered that I carry a
special grace. I knew nothing about music from
the onset. It would interest you to know that I
didn’t go to music school. You can imagine the
experience of a Muslim-turned-Christian, who
knew nothing about rhythm, but whom God gave
the gift of music to the extent that I teach music
professionals now.
What is the secret of your youthful look?
I don’t have any special secret. One will age
gracefully if one plans to live well. I don’t believe
in ‘eye service’ and will never give room for
gossip. I don’t care what people say about me,
because God warned me strongly that my glory
will drown if I entertain the spirit of jealousy. Also,
I have made things easy for myself through
division of labour and I will deal with anyone that
fails to do my assignment instantly, and move on
with life.
Was the situation of the country worse than now
when you released your hit song Amona Tete
Mabo?
Unknown to many, this song is in my Volume 4
and I would say that it was a prophecy. My
baptismal name is Joseph, and like the biblical
Joseph, the dreamer, I receive revelations through
my dreams; even when I was in the army. One
day, God told me to rework the song, which I
informed the members of the group, but they
frowned at it because they felt people would think
we were running out of songs. We argued till we
got to the studio and recorded the song in that
state of mind. The drama that happened in the
studio the day we recorded that song would have
made the song a failure, but God made it
interesting when it came out. The argument that
ensued in the studio also led to the composition of
other two songs entitled: Waba Mi Gbe Rumi and
Satani Oluwa Bao Wi. I would say that Amona
was our worst recorded album, but it became the
watchword for many people and a covenant with
God. This is why God used it as our
breakthrough. The revelation was timely, because
dollar was 4 to 1 back then. This was one of the
things that informed the song then. You will also
agree with me that the song is still relevant even
today, especially with the present state of the
country.
How do you think the country can overcome its
many challenges?
Nigeria is the Israel of Africa and God really loves
us as country. Our major problem is that there is
no unity and, without unity, we cannot grow. We
no longer need payers in the country; what we
need is deliverance.
As a pastor under the leadership of the CAC, what
is your advice on restoring unity to the church?
The main reason that has kept CAC from
collapsing is the covenant of its founding fathers.
That is why I feel sorry for those that constitute
problems for the church and are leaving the fold,
without proper restitution. If we go by the Bible,
many people may not make heaven, except only
through God’s mercy. The problems facing CAC is
similar to that of Nigeria. We need God’s
intervention to solve all these problems and I
want to urge Nigerians to start praying for the will
of God to restore the church and the nation.
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