Opinion: A true story of faith and courage. And how God’s word over our lives still comes to pass even when we don’t believe in ourselves and the abilities he sees in us.~~~~~~~~~~
My mother of blessed memory was a prayer warrior and a member of several prayer bands I remember on one of those days she took me to a prayer man in this church. I was a young man then, I was struggling. I had just lost my father. I was looking after six brothers. I had a son and a daughter.
So on this particular day my mother took me to this prayer band and during the prayers one little girl, I don’t know where she is now. I hope I’ll meet her one day. She stood up and prophsied over my life. She said Umoh Bassey Eno because of your labour of love and your dedication and commitment I am returning you back to your state to become a Governor over my people.
When the prophecy was over, I told my mother I was going to ease myself. I dropped the Bible, I dropped the song book and went outside. I never went back. I went straight to my house. My mother came back and met me in the house and said to me Mbakara you said you were going to ease yourself but you never came bac!? I said to my mother, this prophecy you people keep playing with , look at my life and my situation, look at where we are living. I am looking after six brothers. I have two children and I am struggling, somebody is telling me that one day I’m going to be the Governor of my state. Why doesn’t the same God first of all bring me out of this situation. Please Mma I’m not going to that prayer band again. My mother looked at me and said to me Mbakara every vision is for an appointed time. I will never ever forget those words of my mother.
That was in 1980. Three years later, I went home. I did not know at the time that Exxom Mobil was operating in my State. There was a country home and there were no hotels. There was only Kwa River and if you didn’t book ahead of time you wouldn’t have anywhere to stay. Several times I had to sleep in my car. So I went to one Alhaji Birti Birchi he was the head of operations Exxon Mobil. And I said to him Mobil is here why don’t you have a hotel. And he said because people like you don’t want to come back home and do business. So I said to him if I build a hotel, will Mobil patronise it and he gave me his assurances. So I came back to Lagos and I went to Fidelity bank and asked them for a loan to build a hotel. Fidelity bank said to me if I can bring a letter of intent from Mobil that they will patronise my hotel they will give me a loan.
So I went back to Alhaji Birti Bechi and I said to him can he give me a letter of intent. Immediately he asked his secretary to type one for me and he signed it. I took it back to Fidelity bank and I was given a loan.
That is why I can never be a tribalistic in my life. I am saying this because that person who will help you may not necessarily come from your local government area. He may not come from your village or from anywhere. Be nice and be kind to everybody, not on the basis of where they come from. Because God has lined up destiny helpers to help you and your destiny helpers may be a Christian, they may be a Muslim, they may even be a pagan but that does not affect what you believe.
And that was the beginning of the fulfilment of that prophecy. The prophecy was given in 1980 and my journey back home began 15 years later. I was not looking forward to it, I was not expecting it. The rest of the story you know.
Until God’s appointed time, God touched the heart of my political father Deacon Udom Emmanuel. That is why I will never ever dishonour Deacon Udom Emmanuel if you expect me to that, then take away everything you want to give to me. Because again I learnt something. God taught me right from my youth to never forget those who have helped me along this journey. God used him and he became the fulfilment of that prophecy that was given in this church.
And so having served as Governor for two years the Lord laid it on my heart to come back to this church to come back to my Bethel and to renew my covenant with Him on this altar. I am returning like Jacob to Bethel. I don’t know the storms that lie ahead of me. But one thing I do know Jesus is in the cockpit. And I know that when the storms hit the boat did not capsize.
I remember when I was leaving Daddy you laid your hands on me and you said, may the presence of the Lord go with you. That presence of the Lord has always been with me for 30 years since I left this church. And I’m coming bAta Ikiddeha Ikiddeh.
( paraphrased & transcribed)
Ata Ikiddeh