On Sunday 7th May 2017, Nigerian Prophet T.B. Joshua predicted victory in the French election for Emmanuel Macron merely hours before results were officially announced declaring him the winner.
Speaking to congregants at The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN), a message equally broadcast live on the popular Christian channel Emmanuel TV, Joshua declared Macron’s victory was connected to his considerate stance on immigrants and refugees.
“It is prayer that will put him there, not anything – because of his heart for refugees and immigrants,” Joshua declared, adding that Jesus Christ too was once a refugee.
“We are praying for him and our prayer will answer,” he authoritatively declared. “I am not a politician but I pray every day for Emmanuel Macron because of what he believes,” the cleric proceeded.
Joshua appealed that most refugees were fleeing war-torn countries and should not be looked down upon because of some who perpetrate evil under such guise.
“We know there are some bad people among the refugees – but we cannot say because there are some bad people that we reject all of them,” he counselled.
The cleric further emphasised that his statements bore no political sentiment as “we are not playing politics in the Church”.
Several hours later, news broke that after an extraordinary election campaign full of twists and turns, Emmanuel Macron won a dramatic victory over his opponent Marine Le Pen to become the youngest ever French President.
Initial estimates have put Macron winning by 65% of the votes, an astonishing margin given his relatively recent burst onto the French political scene.
The video of Joshua’s prediction was hurriedly uploaded to popular video sharing site YouTube at the conclusion of the church service.
The cleric additionally told congregants that he had just arrived back from Israel where he met the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi David Lau, as well as the Israeli Minister of Tourism, Mr Yariv Levin, further fuelling speculation of an imminent relocation.
Ihechukwu Njoku is a freelance Nigerian journalist