An Abuja-based politician has made more surprising revelations about the role allegedly played by ‘Prophet’ T.B. Joshua in the historic presidential elections held almost one year ago in Nigeria that saw a peaceful transition of power.
Speaking before a packed congregation at The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) in Lagos, Ambassador Raphael Horsfall explained how Joshua revealed the outcome of the elections to him several weeks prior to the actual vote.
“He told me categorically that I should go and tell Mr President that it is too late, that nothing can be done, that we will lose the election but God will prevail on the peace of Nigeria,” said Horsfall, who served as a Special Assistant to Prof Rufai Alkali, the Political Advisor of Nigeria’s Former President, Goodluck Jonathan.
“That is why when we lost elections, I was at peace,” Horsfall continued, adding that his visit to The SCOAN came after a meeting with Jonathan and his wife Dame Patience where he suggested they sought ‘spiritual guidance’ from Joshua as the tense time of elections neared.
“Mr President was calm after hearing that word from Prophet T.B. Joshua. Everyone was telling him to annul the election, which he had the power to do, but nobody knew this is actually the reason why His Excellency conceded defeat to the opposition,” Horsfall, who said he is currently a UN ambassador and working with the presidency, continued.
The revelation from the outspoken politician corroborates Joshua’s controversial statement immediately after the election that he had warned Jonathan of his impending loss.
According to a report published in several newspapers, the cleric said ‘God’ spoke to him with a message for Mr. Jonathan that whatever the outcome of the election, his regime had come to an end and his concession of defeat would ‘save the lives of millions’.
When a presidential aide worshipped at his church, Joshua said he met him and personally relayed the revelation. “Soft landing – that is the language I sent to the president,” he told the congregation the Sunday following the historic elections which saw Muhammadu Buhari ascend to power.
Horsfall explained that his initial encounter with the controversial Nigerian cleric came in 2009 when he was part of a delegation from the Niger-Delta region who sought spiritual solution at The SCOAN to the growing menace of militancy.
“The guidance he gave to us, which we communicated to the then President, His Excellency Umaru Musa Yar-Adua, was what led to the Amnesty Program which Nigerians and the entire people of the region are enjoying presently,” Horsfall revealed.
He implored Nigeria’s current leadership to seek ‘spiritual guidance’ to address the growing economic challenges engulfing the nation.
“This is not time for religious sentiment, nor is it a time for ethnic sentiment,” Horsfall passionately counselled.
“This is a time to build Nigeria. In building a strong, united Nigeria – we need God. God has blessed us with a man that speaks to God and hears from Him directly. Why is it that our economy is crumbling and we are still folding our hands? Let us come to inquire of the Most High God what we should do.”
Horsfall was also quick to quash any insinuations that money was exchanged with Joshua by politicians during the election period. “Someone who tells you that nothing can be done – will he ask you to bring anything?”
Ihechukwu Njoku is a freelance Nigerian journalist currently in Lagos, Nigeria.