Daddy Hezekiah, founder and leader of Living Christ Mission Worldwide is a well known cleric in the South East.
In a chat with newsmen recently in Onitsha, Anambra State, Daddy Hezekiah who is also the founder and Chancellor of Hezekiah University in Imo State, looked at the protests by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), saying that there was nothing wrong for the Igbo to demand for a Biafran state, but stated Igbos would not be able to lead themselves He also spoke on other issues.

Excerpts:
Despite the harsh economic condition of the country, you awarded scholarship to over 500 students in your university, Hezekiah University, what was your motivation?

When I looked at the school fees of many higher institutions in Nigeria, I noticed that many of them are on the high side. And this has made it very difficult for the poor masses to acquire sound education. Education is very expensive. I called the people who were to work for me; including some bankers who are my church members.

I asked them to make estimate for me on what they think is appropriate to pay my lecturers per month. Brief estimate we made was about N21 million per month. So, I considered, if 500 students pay certain amount how much would it be and so on and so forth. From our analysis, we observed that the only amount each student could pay so that their collective sum can foot the bills of the workers every month is over N500,000 per student.

Who can pay such an exorbitant amount? So, we looked at what other universities are collecting and reduced our own. So, I considered that if I give them N100,000 each, I am going to help so many students. So, why I gave the scholarship is because one: things are hard; two, to help the less privileged; three, to act as incentive because if you ask a student to pay N100,000 per academic year it’s too much. And then, if you tell them to start coming for free who will pay the workers? So, I did it to encourage people to come to the university for their own good; to help the less privileged; to act as an incentive. Sometimes, pioneer students are usually important. So, that was why I gave them the scholarship, so that it will be remarkable; so that it will be noted.

When you were preaching, you told us about 666. And when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) requested that we should register and obtain Bank Verification Number (BVN), a lot of churches and prophets were saying that it was for a unification purpose that will usher in 666 which is the mark of the beast as stated in the holy Bible. What do you have to say about that registration and the 666 which is the mark of the beast?

Coming to the number 666, I thank God for everything. Someone asked me about that number; in fact, it was a woman who told me that her file number was 666 whether she should reject that number because that was her file number with which she was paid and people were telling her to reject the number or change the file. If you look well, it pains me that many church leaders are preaching falsely. Many church leaders are not preaching the truth.

For example, when I was in the university, the European Union was about nine countries. Then, one pastor from a Pentecostal church who came to preach to us instilled fear in the students. He said then that in a very short time, there was a country that would join the European Union to make their number 10 and once that happened the nine toes Nebuchadnezzar saw in his vision in the Bible, book of Daniel would be complete. Because they said that once those nine toes are completed, there would be a stone that would cut it, and then it would be the reign of Christ.

So, he told the students that there were countries which applied to membership of European Union. He said that soon EU would complete 10. Children of God, is European Union not more than 20 in number now? Has the stone fallen? These are false preaching. I helped in calming the tension in the university then. What was the association or connection between the Bible’s inscription and the European Union? Some pastors don’t know what is in the Bible and they would just be goofing. Sometime back I was somewhere and unfortunately people don’t know it was me because I wore casual wear, one Pentecostal came and warned people not to use Colgate paste that it carried the 666 number.

He said that it was anti-Christ and asked him to go and bring it. He brought it and was showing us these numbers associated with some products; I think it’s the trademark or something and was trying to confuse us with some calculations. So, what I’m saying is that people should go and register and obtain their Bank Verification Number. I registered mine. It has nothing to do with 666 which is the mark of the beast. The mark of the beast is clearly stated in the Bible. It is not hidden.

If the government says that everybody should register their car and it shows 666 that should be it, I will register it. If it shows 666 I will still be driving my car with it. It is the beast that will give that number to those who believe in it and it is either on the forehead or right palm as clearly stated in the Bible. It is spiritually written. My brethren kindly go and registrar so that your money would not be seized. God knows those who are His.
Minimum wage was introduced into the country to upgrade the salaries of the workers. But some governors after a meeting went to the president and demanded that the minimum wage be scrapped. Is it wise for minimum wage to be scrapped when the governors are going home with security votes of up to N1 billion every month?

Minimum wage is good; to help the less privileged workers. I know that in some western countries and even in America, problems still exist about the minimum wage. It is difficult for some people to implement theirs. If a governor is genuine and he is finding it difficult to pay the workers, he can explain his challenges implementing that policy to the president and then solicit a grant.

They can explain that it is a good thing but we need some grants. But that is if they are honest. But how many of them are honest? You journalists what are you saying? You are the voice of the people. Many states and federal roads are in shambles. What are the governors doing? As far as I’m concerned corrupt governors should not ask for the abolition of the minimum wage. But there are genuine governors. It is possible that the implementation of minimum wage could be hard giving the harsh economic situation of the country at the moment.

As far as I’m concerned, it’s better to pay me N100,000 monthly as at and when due than to owe me for N1 million for one year as monthly pay. Let the governors implement the policy that is feasible; something realistic and then there should be checks and balances. They should design the nation’s economic policy to suit the country. Let them workout the minimum wage which the government can afford. And then, if the federal government grants the state what they’re asking for, there should be checks and balances. In my opinion, instead of fixing a minimum wage that is not workable and owe the workers, it is better to fix the one that you will not owe anybody his salary.

It is those who have not been owed before that are talking anyhow. Your head will go bald if the government owes you. But if I may ask, these men of God that are going to the State House to pray for them, does it mean they don’t tell them the dilapidated state of our roads, hospitals, schools and so on? Are they actually telling them that people are cursing them for their bad governance? So you journalists should write more on these. So I support minimum wage that is workable. But instead of parading minimum wage that is not workable, it is better to fix and implement a workable one because people need money.

About 40 something years ago, there was war: Nigeria/Biafra war and today IPOB, MASSOB are rearing up their heads again. What does God say about Biafra?

On Biafra, in 1967, I was in Class 3 and I was less than 15 years before the war. It was terrible. We suffered a lot. You can imagine a child that was less than 15, I trekked to Owerri and Orlu from my village. So you children of today that are chanting war songs should be very careful. War is never a pleasant experience anywhere. Listen to me very attentively on this issue of Biafra. When a nation begins to expand; I am not in support of having Biafra through war.

Sometimes I am worried to ask: if we have Biafra today, who will lead us? Is it these governors that cannot lead their states effectively? Which of them? Otherwise, I can’t see anything wrong in having Biafra. If in the future we have Biafra, there is nothing wrong with it. I don’t want it through war but peace. Was six nations not created out of Yugoslavia which Macedonia is one of it? Was it not from Czechoslovakia that they created Czechs and Slovakia? Is it not true? Was Soviet Union not formerly 15 nations?

So what is wrong? When a nation grows bigger and bigger there is nothing wrong in creating another nation out of it but let peace be the watchword. But my fear and question is can Ndigbo lead themselves? With the way we govern ourselves in Anambra, Imo and Abia states; can we really govern ourselves if dream of Biafra materializes? It’s worse in Abia State. I don’t like the way Abia State is. The people of Abia State are suffering too much. Look at it, somebody travelling to Port Harcourt through Umuagwo normally is stuck for about 10 hours due to bad roads. But when the governor will pass he would use helicopter.

It’s very unfortunate. Let me stand and talk to these governments. You journalists should tell them. The blessings poured on these leaders by the people matter a lot. As well, the curses being rained on these governors and other leaders by these same people must come to pass. These old men and women raining curses on them because of their exploitation on them and their children will never spare these corrupt leaders. As well, those they are blessing will surely harvest their blessings. And another advice I am giving the governors is that they should govern their states well such that when they leave office, they would retain their respects such like that of Akanu Ibiam, Nelson Mandela, Nnamdi Azikiwe and so on. Let them know that money is not everything but the blessings of the righteous is always everything. God answers the prayers of the oppressed.

What do you think is the direction of the Buhari-led Federal Government given the observed increase in the level of hunger in the land since he came on board? From your wealth of experience do you think this is the beginning of the fall of this great nation?

First of all, I know that President Goodluck Jonathan made mistakes in different ways. He is a good man but some aides he surrounded himself with dealt with him. Some men of God who were around him dealt with him too. But one thing I am thanking Jonathan which I will like the present government to learn is to accept defeat like Jonathan did when it becomes their turn. When this present government lost election in 2011, so much blood was shed; so many people were killed. And if they had lost in 2015, there might have been a repeat. So I commend Jonathan; I commend the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

I personally saw some members of the PDP who were beaten black and blue in Kaduna, Kano and those who were chased out of the polling units so that they wouldn’t participate in that election, yet Jonathan accepted the defeat with honour. So I advise the present government to learn from Jonathan and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). But coming to this regime, we are still praying for Buhari. As far as I’m concerned, some of these people in the Senate raise useless issues like I heard one of them on radio asking for a ban to be placed on the importation of rice through the borders; that rice importation should be done through the wharf only.

I see that assertion as idle talk. He said it affects the farmers’ income. For me, farmers achieve a lot through competition. Despite the importation of rice from Thailand, people are still suffering from hunger. I wonder what would happen if they ban it. So Buhari may be good but what about those people surrounding him? He should be careful. Why they are proposing for rice importation through wharf only is so that they can get their own share. So what I’m saying is let us pray for Buhari; he has good intentions. But let him not allow rice importation to be banned. Let them not also ban this second hand cloth we call okrika. It helps the poor people. This country has bright future but as long as we don’t have good management, the future is not bright.