JANUARY 18, 2015 BY ARUKAINO UMUKORO
AND GBENGA ADENIJI
5 Comments
Pastor T. B Joshua
In this piece, ARUKAINO UMUKORO and
GBENGA ADENIJI examine the 2014
prophecies made by some Nigerian clergymen
which did not come to pass
At the twilight and dawn of every year, it has
become customary for Nigerian clerics to reel
out prophesies on what to expect in the New
Year. While few of these predictions manifest,
many of them fail to see the light of the day.
Predictions are, however, not limited to
Christian clerics. Members of other faiths and
beliefs are known to have made predictions
not only in Nigeria but all over the world.
Notable in Nigeria in the last two decades of
the last century were Prof. Godspower
Oyewole, a metaphysician, and Prof. Sam
Akpabot.
While Oyewole gazed into his crystal ball to
give earth-shaking predictions on a wide array
of subjects including politics, economy and
environment, Akpabot limited himself to
sports. He was called the Oracle of Nigerian
sports. The two gentlemen are now deceased.
Like in the past years, some of the prophecies
made in 2014 by some Nigerian seers did not
come to pass, causing many Nigerians to take
some of these prophesies with a pinch of salt.
Aregbesola will be abducted — Olabayo
The founder of the Evangelical Church of
Yahweh, Theophilus Olabayo, predicted late
2013 that Osun State Governor, Rauf
Aregbesola risked being kidnapped in the New
Year of 2014.
Olabayo, who prophesied in his 2014 Book of
Predictions that a South-West governor would
be kidnapped, told a national newspaper (not
THE PUNCH) during an interview to expatiate
on the predictions that the governor could
also be killed.
He said, “Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun
State has to be watchful so that they will not
kidnap and kill him in the New Year. He has
to be very careful so that he can survive the
year.” However, the governor was not killed in
the year and no attempt to kidnap him was
recorded.
2014, Nigeria’s year of economic boom —
Olusegun
For Akiode Olusegun who is the General
Overseer of the Ogun State-based Divine
Ministries International, 2014 would be a year
of economic surplus for Nigeria. He had
specifically noted among other predictions
that “2014 is a year of economic growth for
Nigeria.’’ It was number 24 of the 33
predictions made by the pastor for the year.
Last year was, however, everything but
financially buoyant for Nigeria. The decline in
the price of crude oil affected the government
to the extent that the Minister of Finance and
the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, outlined government’s
austerity measures aimed at cushioning the
impact of the oil slump on the economy.
Olusegun further said in number 30 of the
prediction outline that, “Some notable people
will commit suicide by drinking poison to
escape hammer from government.’’ Rather
than this, Nigerians only witnessed a higher
level of impunity from individuals in
government circles.
Presidential ticket will split APC — Suleiman
Apostle Johnson Suleiman, who is the founder
and Senior Pastor of Omega Fire Ministries
Worldwide, was also among the clerics who
predicted major occurrences in 2014. He had
said the contest for the presidential ticket to
select the individual who would be the
standard-bearer of the All Progressives
Congress for next month’s election would split
the party. However, the opposition political
party managed the primary election so well
that the eventual winner and former Head of
State, Muhammadu Buhari, was congratulated
by fellow opponents.
Buhari contested the primary election against
Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso,
former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, Imo
State Governor, Rochas Okorocha and the
Publisher, Leadership Newspapers, Sam Nda-
Isaiah.
Suleiman also said, “I saw a colonel in the
military trying to stage a coup but he will
fail.’’ Such a development did not happen in
2014.
Another prophecy of his that, “I see CBN
printing high denomination naira notes this
year,’’ also never materialised in 2014.
Chibok girls will return unhurt — T.B Joshua
Popular Pastor Temitope Joshua, the General
Overseer of the Synagogue Church of All
Nations with headquarters in Lagos is one
cleric who regales his followers with
predictions which they claim come to pass.
In a two-minute, 55 seconds video clip on
tbjoshuawatch , TB Joshua, as he is popularly
called, said, “Unless I’m not called by God, I
place my career and calling on the line that
these 200 schoolchildren and girls that were
kidnapped have to be released immediately,
unharmed and unhurt.” The video quoted
Joshua as saying this on May 3, 2014.
More than seven months after, the girls have
yet to be released. The few who reportedly
escaped had told the world of the sufferings
and assaults they underwent in the hands of
Boko Haram insurgents.

Confused entities labelling themselves Men of God.