Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) has variously identified himself as a man who does not sit on the fence, he speaks the mind of God at all times not minding whose ox is gored. Recently the prophet of God in his message advised the Federal Government to be careful in locking down the people as a way of fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. As according to him if you shut down the people, you have shut down the economy Southwest Editor, JOHN SILAS and CYRIACUS NNAJI write.
Countries of the world are in a quandary, confused and flabbergasted, while others have come to their wits’ end as they search frantically for solution against the Coronavirus pandemic ravaging the entire globe.
Part of measures adopted by many countries including Nigeria was the total lockdown of the people. This meant that the citizens were not expected to move out of their homes in order not to contract the virus which is as deadly as it is fast in its spread.
However, while Nigeria embarked on total lockdown of the nation, the Nigerian economy just like any other began a downward trend towards calamitous and irredeemable recession. Most regrettable was the total absence of palliative for millions of Nigerians.
This was the point where the man of God in the Synagogue intervened. In his tweets, TB Joshua advised the government to apply human face in the implementations of guidelines aimed at tackling the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
TB Joshua encouraged Nigerians to keep looking onto God, who alone, according to him, has the solution to the disease ravaging the entire world.
According to the Prophet, the economy is the people and the people are the government, he said “If you shut down the people, you have shut down the economy.”
Further he said the effect of locking down the people on the economy “may be worse after the coronavirus outbreak if the lockdown continues. This is a prophetic word from Prophet TB Joshua,” he is reported to have said.
“No matter how much cash you inject into the economy, no matter how much you give to each citizen, money alone cannot revive the economy; it is the people who revive the economy because the people are the economy,” the man of God said.
The Prophet also went further by advising his members on what to do at this auspicious time when the world is battling the novel virus, he said “Believers must take control of their situation instead of being afraid, for Satan, the cause of crises, “has been defeated.”
TB Joshua is known for his sound prophecies, philanthropic gestures all around the world. Millions of Nigerians and foreigners have benefitted from the spiritual and philanthropic works of Prophet TB Joshua.
It is on record that that when thousands of Nigerians were repatriated from Libya it was Prophet TB Joshua who took it upon himself to shelter them, feed them and empowered them by giving them a token to start life afresh, while other churches look the other way.
It is on record that the Founder of SCOAN, T.B. Joshua, in collaboration with the church’s media platform, Emmanuel TV, donated items worth GH¢140,000 (N6,332,646) to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to help victims of disaster in Ghana. The items were presented at the NADMO headquarters in the country’s capital, Accra.
Local newspaper, Daily Guide Ghana reports that the items, made up of 1,000 bags of rice, 200 each of student mattresses, blankets and pillows, 400 pieces each of buckets and cups. The rest are 50 boxes each of vegetable oil and bar soaps.
SCOAN donated the sum of N20 million for electricity upgrade in his Arigidi-Akoko community of Ondo State.
It is an incontrovertible fact that no religious organisation in Nigeria has ever received and continues to receive a stream of foreign church workers willing to forsake the pleasures abundant in their countries and pitch tents with the soft-spoken pastor in Ikotun.
From China, Korea, USA, UK, Denmark, Israel, Norway, Russia, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, among others.
It is on record what TB Joshua said in an interview, he said: If you meet people, and you are in position – you have to help”
It is also on record that Prophet TB Joshua was once accompanied by The Emmanuel TV team, stormed Alaba-Rago with a truck-full of top quality rice. This rice was intended only for the deprived/underprivileged that reside in the community. The sight of the environment was appalling, one wondered how the inhabitants manage to survive in such an environment unbefitting of a human being.
At a point, the Prophet approached a young man smoking marijuana, collected it from him and extinguished it on his jeans. He then spotted a hut full of young men. He entered and discovered that they were all puffing away at their marijuana. Surprisingly, he sat in their midst and started a conversation with them, telling them that he was their friend. The hut was practically jam-packed, with each person with the exception of Prophet TB Joshua holding a stick of marijuana.
Prophet TB Joshua shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them and promised to assist any one of them that decided to further their education or take up a trade. He then donated bags of rice to them.
He was also at the Agege home for the needy, Prophet TB Joshsua was seen lifting bags of rice on his head. He also donated loads of bags of rice to the blind and leper community. In addition, the sum of N300,000 was presented to the leader of the community.
