T.B. Joshua: Untold truth and his death has brought out speculations which have been making the rounds as questions like, how he died and where he is as of the moment, rest on the lips of Nigerians and the outside world.
The world woke up to the sad news about the demise of one of Nigeria’s leading clergymen, Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua.
The pastor, who was the Founder and General Overseer of the Synagogue Church of all Nations (SCOAN), was reported to have breathed his last on Sunday June 6, 2021, after a church programme.
Birth and Childhood
T.B. Joshua who is survived by wife Evelyn and three children was born on June 12, 1963 in Arigidi Akoko, Ondo State, after reportedly spending 15 months in his mother’s womb.
From a tender age, the prophet had begun showing signs of a promising future in ministry and was tagged ‘small pastor’ in his community because of his devotion to the Bible and church activities.
Work and Ministry
His church which is located in Lagos and owns a television network channel known as Emmanuel TV is touted to hold a capacity of about 15,000 worshippers every Sunday, and nearly 3,000,000 social media followers worldwide, is said to have no other branches anywhere in the world.
The televangelist, who according to reports is worth $150million came from humble beginnings and had to drop out of secondary school and pick up menial jobs due to his parent’s inability to cater for his needs.
At some point, he resulted to moving poultry dung from supplier to buyer as a means of survival, and almost enlisted in the Nigerian Army before the Kaduna-bound train he was to board developed a fault and thwarted his effort. A situation he termed ‘God’s will.
Before his ministry kick started, the clergyman reportedly went up a prayer mountain in 1987, where he fasted 40 days and nights, after which he received divine encounter and a direction to start his ministry which is over three decades in existence.
T.B. Joshua whose ministry includes preaching, healing, deliverance and exorcism, is one of the most controversial ministers of the gospel in Africa and the world at large.
T.B. Joshua who is termed the Oprah Winfrey of evangelism was also an author, with works such as The Mirror, Daily Time with God, and many more.
Controversies
Some controversial stories such as curing of chronic diseases like HIV/AIDS patients with his popular ‘Anointing water’, prophesying the death of pop star Michael Jackson, the crash of Malaysian Airlines MH370, are among many that have made him popular among admirers and non-admirers alike.
Until his death, the prophet always maintained that everything he did was according to the will and direction of God, a statement culled from Amos 3:7, which is why he wasn’t afraid of what people had to say. This came after his YouTube channel was pulled down due to criticisms by rights group that the man of God reiterated he cured people of homosexuality.
Achievements
The father of three who was also Nigeria’s third-richest pastor was a recipient of notable awards and recognitions which include, Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), Yoruba man of the decade, top 50 most influential people in Nigeria, and so on.
Death
Report of his death which was first posted during the early hours of Sunday 6 June, on the church’s facebook page, came as a shock to many in Nigeria and Diaspora.
The death which made him a week short of turning 58 was further confirmed by one of his lawyers Barr. Olalekan Ojo. In his statement, he reportedly announced that God had taken him.
Although cause of death was not disclosed, his wife whom he married in 1990 told newsmen that her husband had suffered a stroke two months before.
It was also reported that the prophet who had spent several hours praying on the mountain before his last programme showed no sign of illness, but was looking unwell as he walked out during the service and never returned till the end.
As of the moment, no autopsy report has been released to determine the actual time and cause of his passing away, neither has the whereabouts of his body been made known.
