NIGERIAN preacher Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, popularly known as TB Joshua, is among the scores of high-profile world leaders now in Tanzania to witness today’s swearing-in of President-elect Dr John Magufuli in Dar es Salaam.
The man of God jetted into the city’s Julius Nyerere International Airport on Tuesday, with most ordinary people in the dark, and was received by none other than Dr Magufuli himself.
Sources says he then proceeded to the State House and held talks with outgoing President Jakaya Kikwete and later paid a courtesy call to the former Prime Minister and Ukawa-endorsed Union presidential candidate in the October 25 General Election Edward Lowassa.
Although his Lagos-based Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN) is a popular place for ordinary mortals from all over the world, the preacher has also carved out a career as pastor for who is who – the powerful and famous, including heads of state and government.
In the last few years, the complex located at address 1 Segun Irefin Street –with its own hostel flats for accommodation of flocks—has been a popular destination for incumbent African leaders seeking re-election, and first-time aspirants eager to occupy powerful offices in their land. Some of the high-profile individuals on the continent who had visited SCOAN openly (some reportedly sought audience with him off-camera) include late Ghanaian President John Evans Atta Mills, former President of Malawi Joyce Banda, South Africa’s Winnie Mandela, firebrand South African opposition party EFF leader Julius ‘Juju’ Malema, the Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu and the late former Zambian President Frederick Chiluba, who was once quoted as saying that he watched Emmanuel TV daily.
Emmanuel TV is SCOAN television station which broadcasts 24 hours, seven days a week with live prayer line during Sunday services. This channel has made TB Joshua arguably Africa’s best known televangelist. In 2014, Forbes named Joshua Nigeria’s third-richest pastor with an estimated fortune of between USD10 and 15 million (about 22bn/- and 33bn/-).
Back home, among others, both Magufuli and Lowassa are said to have been in touch with TB Joshua at different times before the duo ran for a closely contested Union Presidency last month, which the former won with 58.46 per cent of the votes while the latter polled 39.97 per cent. And Tanzania is not alone; the story is more or less the same elsewhere in Africa.
In Malawi for instance, the good man of God drew outrage in 2013 when the country’s President Banda was accused of making too many “private” visits to Nigeria which had no connection whatsoever to her job description as a head of state.
“Banda has been frequenting Nigeria since she ascended to power than any other leader and her trips had always been linked to TB Joshua,” reported Nyasa Times in a December 26, 2013 issue: “The Malawi leader has been spotted on TB Joshua’s Emmanuel TV from the time she was vice president.”
According to reports, Banda’s visits to TB Joshua, which she was quoted as saying she did “just the way some Christians visit Israel, just like pilgrimages Muslims make to Mecca,” increased after earlier prophecy by Joshua in 2012 about the “imminent death of an African president”. Then Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika passed away afterwards, coincidentally or prophetically, depending on what you believe in.
Other famous prophecies TB Joshua made included the death of Michael Jackson, Boston bombing attacks in the US, the outcome of two African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final matches, which were won by Zambia and Nigeria respectively, and recently, the crash of Malaysian Airlines MH370.
But according to ‘tradition’ if I may borrow Nigerian accent, apart from his international crusades known for drawing record crowds, the Prophet rarely visits his flocks; the flocks visit the prophet. Yet, today my ‘broda’ in the name of the Lord is a VIP state guest, in Dar es Salaam to witness and bless the success of one of his many followers in this country.
Which begs the question: Is TB Joshua Africa’s top Kingmaker?
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
The man of God jetted into the city’s Julius Nyerere International Airport on Tuesday, with most ordinary people in the dark, and was received by none other than Dr Magufuli himself.
Sources says he then proceeded to the State House and held talks with outgoing President Jakaya Kikwete and later paid a courtesy call to the former Prime Minister and Ukawa-endorsed Union presidential candidate in the October 25 General Election Edward Lowassa.
Although his Lagos-based Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN) is a popular place for ordinary mortals from all over the world, the preacher has also carved out a career as pastor for who is who – the powerful and famous, including heads of state and government.
In the last few years, the complex located at address 1 Segun Irefin Street –with its own hostel flats for accommodation of flocks—has been a popular destination for incumbent African leaders seeking re-election, and first-time aspirants eager to occupy powerful offices in their land. Some of the high-profile individuals on the continent who had visited SCOAN openly (some reportedly sought audience with him off-camera) include late Ghanaian President John Evans Atta Mills, former President of Malawi Joyce Banda, South Africa’s Winnie Mandela, firebrand South African opposition party EFF leader Julius ‘Juju’ Malema, the Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu and the late former Zambian President Frederick Chiluba, who was once quoted as saying that he watched Emmanuel TV daily.
Emmanuel TV is SCOAN television station which broadcasts 24 hours, seven days a week with live prayer line during Sunday services. This channel has made TB Joshua arguably Africa’s best known televangelist. In 2014, Forbes named Joshua Nigeria’s third-richest pastor with an estimated fortune of between USD10 and 15 million (about 22bn/- and 33bn/-).
Back home, among others, both Magufuli and Lowassa are said to have been in touch with TB Joshua at different times before the duo ran for a closely contested Union Presidency last month, which the former won with 58.46 per cent of the votes while the latter polled 39.97 per cent. And Tanzania is not alone; the story is more or less the same elsewhere in Africa.
In Malawi for instance, the good man of God drew outrage in 2013 when the country’s President Banda was accused of making too many “private” visits to Nigeria which had no connection whatsoever to her job description as a head of state.
“Banda has been frequenting Nigeria since she ascended to power than any other leader and her trips had always been linked to TB Joshua,” reported Nyasa Times in a December 26, 2013 issue: “The Malawi leader has been spotted on TB Joshua’s Emmanuel TV from the time she was vice president.”
According to reports, Banda’s visits to TB Joshua, which she was quoted as saying she did “just the way some Christians visit Israel, just like pilgrimages Muslims make to Mecca,” increased after earlier prophecy by Joshua in 2012 about the “imminent death of an African president”. Then Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika passed away afterwards, coincidentally or prophetically, depending on what you believe in.
Other famous prophecies TB Joshua made included the death of Michael Jackson, Boston bombing attacks in the US, the outcome of two African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final matches, which were won by Zambia and Nigeria respectively, and recently, the crash of Malaysian Airlines MH370.
But according to ‘tradition’ if I may borrow Nigerian accent, apart from his international crusades known for drawing record crowds, the Prophet rarely visits his flocks; the flocks visit the prophet. Yet, today my ‘broda’ in the name of the Lord is a VIP state guest, in Dar es Salaam to witness and bless the success of one of his many followers in this country.
Which begs the question: Is TB Joshua Africa’s top Kingmaker?
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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