Prophet G.A. Oyelami, fondly called Baba Alasepe, was called into the ministry in the early 40s and has been a leading light of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) revivals. The cleric, who is well over 100 years old, speaks with SEGUN ADEBAYO about the National Intercessory Congress, a programme aimed at praying for the country, especially the forthcoming elections. Excerpts:What are your expectations from the National Intercessory Congress which holds in Abuja, two weeks from now'Some years back, God gave us the vision to start a movement about the people and Nigeria. Our job is to come together and pray for the unity and progress of this country. We all know the problems currently militating against the progress of Nigeria, insecurity of lives and properties of the citizens being the height of it all. Initially, it started as movement since 2013, but later God said we should make it bigger. So, we are looking forward to having another powerful congress that will not only shake the city of Abuja and its environs, but one that will also establish again that our God remains the same and can still save our dear country. We are expecting people from all walks of life at the congress. We will be interceding for the nation through prayers and I know God will move the country forward.What exactly led to this meeting and how much influence does it have on people'If you have been in the country for some years, you will know that this country's peace is currently threatened. The problems have continued to escalate, because, we as a people have failed to do the needful. Doing the needful in the sense that, we have not been praying genuinely for the peace of the country and the prosperity of its citizenry. It is not a hidden fact that some of our forefathers might have gone into some devilish covenants before we were born, which is now having adverse effects on this generation. God wants us come back to Him. I understand that our leaders have been trying frantically to put the country in order, but we have to take our problems to God. We have to pray fervently for peace to return to Nigeria. The elections are coming and many people are already drumming for war. We want to reach out to as many people as possible, urging them that violence cannot solve our problems but prayers. This meeting is essentially for God's faithful to come together and pray for the country, so that it won't go up in flames.Having a congress like this in Abuja will surely not come cheap. How are your raising funds for this and why Abuja'God gave us this vision, so I am sure He will provide all that we need. We are aware that things are on the high side in Abuja, but our God is rich enough to bless us and provide for all our needs. He will raise His people for the mission and things will work out fine; I'm a man of faith. I know God will take absolute control of His work. About the location, Abuja is the seat of power and it is known not only to the nation but to the world at large that it is capital of Nigeria. If you are going to change something, you have to start from the seat of power where you can reach to every other parts of the country. Abuja is the main focus and we are sure that the powerful Hands of God will spread across the country from that point.Some people have argued that Nigeria's problems are beyond what prayers can solve. Do you agree with this'No. I am absolutely against that. Those who are saying that don't have a deep understanding of the Bible. The Bible never said there is anything above prayers. No matter how hard a situation may seem, prayers are the only effective and trusted tools that can surmount all mountains. From the scriptures, we were made to understand that we should take everything to God in prayer. He said, ask and it shall be given. As long as there is a problem somewhere, God expects us to meet Him and discuss the issue with Him through prayers. So, prayer is taking our issues to God. Whoever is saying that the problems have gone beyond what prayers can solve, is saying that the problem has gone beyond God's intervention. No problem can be solved without prayers. I have never underestimated the efficacy of prayers.What should the people expect this year and why is this year's edition different from the previous editions. Has this got to do with the elections coming up in few weeks'Yes, the election fever is everywhere. The fear of violence has gripped many people's minds. The fear of what will happen to the nation and what exactly will be the after-effect of the elections is giving many people sleepless nights. That's the more reason we need to come together and pray against all demons of war and violence. We need to avert them and tell God to shut them out. This one is quite unique, because it's very close to the elections, since the general election will come up one week after the congress. That is why every right-thinking Nigerian should join hands with us, wherever they may be, to pray for the soul of the nation.Prophets keep springing up daily, yet Nigeria's problems have refused to go away. As a prophet of God who has been in the ministry for decades, what are your fears about the proliferation of prophets in Nigeria'To an ordinary person, everyone who calls himself a prophet is seen as a prophet but how many are really God-sent. The name prophet is one of the avenues that people use to exploit others. People believe that calling themselves prophets will bring them more opportunities to get money and privileges. Truly, those working with God are very few and it is those who are with God that God will listen to. As at 1986, Nigeria had sixty per cent of all the clerics in Africa and even in America, Britain and everywhere in the world, you'll find Nigerian ministers. The more prophets we have now, the more corrupt our nation becomes. Every prophet is playing a game that suits him. For that reason, we cannot blame God for what the people have not actually come with a sincere mind to ask Him to do.What is your take on the crisis in Christ Apostolic Church (CAC)'The crisis of the church has to do with position, power and money, but I know that whatever has a beginning will definitely have an end. Although, there have been moves for us to unite before but currently, we are working hard to make sure we come back as one. I believe that this year, God will perfect the work and the church will be united.What is God telling you about Nigeria, especially as elections are just weeks away'God told me that Nigeria will be great again. God didn't tell me when, but He told me about a year ago that all will be well with Nigeria. I want to appeal to Nigerians that violence is not the way forward. Politics of bitterness is not part of God's plan for this country. As long as we crucify others through destructive criticism, it will not build but destroy the country. As many that are old enough to know what happened in 1963 and 1983, I want to appeal that they should stop blowing the trumpet of violence as if the country was going to war. This is an election and it will come and go. Nigeria will continue to exist, no matter what anybody may say.
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