A prophecy is a message of revelation which a prophet or clairvoyant, believed to be in divine communion with God, receives from God and passes to people concerning what is to happen in future. Nigeria has had a bumper harvest of prophecies in 2015, majority of them predetermining the outcome of the 2015 presidential election. In this edition, Leadership highlights those prophecies that never occured. Abah Adah, Andrew Essien and Paul Chiama write.

Prophet Olaniyi Odutayo

Prophet Olaniyi Odutayo of the World Prophetic Church, Ikeja, had in the countdown to the March 28, 2015 presidential poll affirmed that God revealed to him that President Goodluck Jonathan would defeat three strong contenders to emerge victorious.

Odutayo, who was said to have fasted for 40 days, declared that God revealed to him that although the opposition would win more states in the election, President Goodluck Jonathan would still remain in power till 2019.

He said, “During the prayer/fasting, the Lord showed me three men trying to bury Goodluck Jonathan. Each one of them was trying to bury him one after the other, but as they pushed down his head, he rose up again. After the third man pushed down his head, he thought he had prevailed, he was already jubilating but suddenly Goodluck rose up.”

Prophet Joseph Oladipupo.

Prophet Joseph Oladipupo is the shepherd in charge of Faith and Victory Church located in Akure, the Ondo State capital and one of those whose prophecies concerning the 2015 presidential elections never were.

According to him, God said Muhammadu Buhari, the major challenger of the then incumbent president, Jonathan, would not win.

“The upcoming election will be very tough for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but they will win the presidency,” he said.

Primate Elijah Ayodele

In January, 2013, founder and General Overseer of Inri Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, predicted that God showed him Jonathan would continue to rule till 2019.

“The 2015 elections will hold but will be peaceful in some areas and not in other areas. As it is, from what I see at the moment, PDP will win, amidst serious criticism,” he said.

Apostle Johnson Suleman

“With the level of bloodshed I saw, it is better Goodluck goes now to his village quietly.

2015 election is another June 12. The man who truly won will not govern or rule,” was how Apostle Johnson Suleiman put his own.

These words of Apostle Johnson Suleman of Auchi-based Omega Fire Ministry implies that Jonathan was favoured to win but after that, violence may consume him. He thus advised that the “divinely favoured candidate quit the race or face the regrettable consequences.

Alhaji Musa Ayeni

Alhaji Musa Ayeni was the Presidential candidate of the African Peoples Alliance (APA). Like the prophet of old, he had before the election claimed that he had been ordained by God to take over the mantle of leadership from President Jonathan after May 29.

The politician told newsmen in Akure, that his decision to join the presidential race was in obedience to divine call from God.

“I came into the race because God directed me to contest the election. God told me categorically that I will succeed President Goodluck Jonathan and I believe what God says, hence, my resolve to contest the forthcoming presidential election,” Ayeni, who was former deputy governor in the old Ondo State said.

After the election, Ayeni came third after polling 53,537 votes, meaning his self-favoured prophecy never was.

Prophet Paul Okikiiesu

A Lagos prophet, Paul Okikijesu was not quite clear with his prediction, but said correctly that Buhari might be voted for. He said “If Buhari can surrender his heart to me, he will win the election. Nevertheless despite people’s mandate, they will neither release power to him nor swear him in as the president of the nation. His situation will be similar to Abiola that had people’s mandate, but was not given the chance to rule the country.” It is not known whether the APC candidate “surrendered his heart” to the cleric, but as for now, he has been declared the winner.

Others however did not see any glimmer of hope for the APC presidential candidate.

Guru Maharaji

The spiritual leader of One Love Family, Sat Guru Maharaji, stated categorically “There is no vacancy for Buhari at Aso Rock. President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is the verifiable divine choice of the forthcoming presidential election.”

Prophet Micheal Olubode

Prophet Micheal Olubode, the prophet of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) was also sure of Goodluck Jonathan’s victory. “I want to let the people of Nigeria know that The Lord will return His Excellency, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to his presidential seat” he declared.

Apostle B. B Frederick

From Ghana came Apostle B.B Frederick who declared based on ‘inspiration of the Almighty’ that “President Jonathan is the set man for Nigeria and his next term on the seat will bring liberation to Nigeria”.

Prophet Godfrey Gbujie

Prophet Godfrey Gbujie, who had predicted the deaths of former military ruler, Gen Sani Abacha and former president, Shehu Yar’Adua, told newsmen in Owerri that neither Goodluck Ebele Jonathan nor Gen Muhammadu Buhari would win in 2015.

He added that “Buhari has a mission divinely imposed on him, but he shall not rule this country again; even if he wins, God has not determined him to find His favour. Jonathan is the last elected president of this country.”

Pastor Dapo Adeniyi

Pastor Dapo Adeniyi stated that while Buhari may have good agendas to eradicate corruption in Nigeria, it was unfortunate that he would not win the election. “Though he will give Ebele Jonathan tough time, he will accuse the PDP of rigging the election, go to court but justice will not prevail. What a pity! I see him fainting and uncooperative to ensure the peace of Nigeria after his defeat.”

Dr Okhue Iboi

The most bizarre came from the National coordinator and spokesman of Witches and Wizards Association of Nigeria (WITZAN), Dr Okhue Iboi. He said “I don’t see General Mohammadu Buhari ruling this country. We don’t have a political party but if anyone seeks our help, we shall render it. There was a time witches in Benue State invited other witches across the country to offer prayers for the Senate President, David Mark, against impeachment. We flew to Otukpo and later to a village called Owetor. That was where we offered the prayers” he said.

Reverend Saviour Awusi

Reverend Saviour Awusi is the founder and General Overseer of God’s Divine Favour Evangelical Church, Okota, Lagos. His voice was not missed when prophetic utterances were rising from the pulpits at the dawn of this year. Awusi prophesied, “Thus says the Lord: ‘By my mercy, President Jonathan would surely win this year’s presidential election. And all those who are against him shall be put to shame.”

His prophecy, like others, did not come to manifestation as Jonathan lost to his opponent.

Babatunde Elijah Ayodele

The founder of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Oke-Afa, Isolo, Lagos, Babatunde Elijah Ayodele, came up with some prophecies too. He foretold ahead of the election: “Kaduna is going to be very bloody. PDP may take Kaduna, but it’s going to be by narrow margin. Yobe, Gombe, Benue, Delta, Akwa Ibom, all those states will be won by PDP.”

After the election, Kaduna was calm and not bloody. APC’s candidate, Nasiru el-Rufai, won the governorship election, beating PDP’s Ramalan Yero. Also, the PDP missed clinching Yobe and Benue governorship seats as the primate had predicted. On the presidential election, the man of God had this to say about Jonathan: “This election is a lesson for him and there are still lessons for him to learn if he now gets it back. He still needs a lot of prayers. But in the midst of all the ups and downs, he may still have a very slim chance of winning the election. I don’t see any landslide victory at all between him and Buhari. At the end of the day, PDP will win the federal, but the party will crash after the election.”

After the election, PDP, however, was estimated to have lost with about 2.5 million votes.

Archbishop John Obiokeke

Archbishop John Obiokeke of God Pentecostal Mission Churches is reputed to have made some predictions which came to pass. However, his predictions on the 2015 presidential election seem to have missed the mark. At the early hours of 2015, he made predictions which foretold the coming back of Jonathan after the election. He had prophesied in January, “God is saying that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock. For reasons best known to him, Jonathan, even though will rig, is still going to be the president”. His prophecy ended on an assuring note that “the election is going to be tight, but Jonathan will return.”

With President Buhari occupying Aso Rock today, and Jonathan being the first to congratulate him on his victory at the polls, no further prophecy is needed to tell Nigerians that Obiokeke’s prophecy was not fulfilled.

Pastor Success Ibeakanma

Senior pastor of Royal Choice Ministries, Lagos, Pastor Success Ibeakanma, made a prophecy early this year pointing to the 2015 election. He foretold, “In the presidential election of 2015, APC will try but PDP will win.”

However, it did not come to pass as he prophesied as APC did not only “try” but won the election in a landslide victory leaving PDP, the foretold winner, as a loser in the vacuum of opposition party.

Primate Theophilus O. Olabayo:

Theophilus Olabayo, the founder of Evangelical Church of Yahweh, Lagos, somehow got it wrong on who had the divine seal to win the presidential election. He also missed the target on who was to become Lagos State governor. He had earlier predicted, “God has revealed to me that if at all there is going to be a presidential election, it will be inconclusive just like the June 12, 1993, election that we had during the time of late Chief M.K.O Abiola.”

The elections have been held. But the presidential election, in particular, was not declared inconclusive.

On the election of Lagos State governor, he prophesied: “Jimi Agbaje will have more support of the people, and this is what will cause uproar in some circles if at all there is going to be an election. Jimi Agbaje will have the upper-hand because the candidate that should have won the election for APC was not given the chance to be presented as the party’s governorship candidate in Lagos. APC should have presented Ganiyu Solomon, he was God’s anointed candidate.” But Akinwumi Ambode of the APC eventually won.

Pastor Emeka Agwu

Pastor Emeka Agwu is the General Overseer, Voice of Evangelism International, Houston, Texas, USA. Also, he organised Diaspora Prayers for Dr Jonathan’s Victory ahead of the election. His prophecy concerning the election came thus: “They want Jonathan resigned or changed, but God has given Jonathan the 2015 election key of victory.”

However, since both the key to victory and key to Aso Villa did not remain with the former president, his prophecy can be said to have failed.

Brother Joshua Iginla

Prophet Joshua Iginla is the founder of Champions Royal Assembly, a new-generation church based in Abuja. He is among those who missed the message on who will be Nigeria’s president following the 2015 elections.

Joshua once said in an interview in January this year, “I am not a politician nor do I belong to any political party. I am just speaking God’s mind. The person sitting on the seat might not be perfect but he will retain the seat. It’s not guesswork… President Jonathan will win, but he has to pray about his health and so many political blows.”

Perhaps, not only Jonathan but a crowd of his supporters might have taken the message with a pinch of salt but the outcome of the election may have convinced them to believe that there are many reasons to doubt, sometimes, the words of some ‘prophets’.

– Leadership