Primate of The Saviours Ministries C&S Worldwide, Dr Solomon Aluko, speaks with Sunday Oguntola on the spectacular turnarounds of his life and ministry. Excerpts:
Early life as a taxi driver
I give thanks to God because I never imagined I would serve Him. I am surprised He could find me useful in His vineyard. Where I am today is just by His grace alone. I came to Lagos in 1960 with a cocoa trailer from Ilesha.
I knew people in Ibadan but I said I would prefer to stay in Lagos. I remember the Independence celebration at Lagos Island. I returned to Lagos and joined the taxi drivers’ union when I came back. Our park was in one Mobil station in Yaba.
Gradually, I became the treasurer of the union and then vice president of the union. I was active and the president was very close to me. One day, they wanted to send delegates to Cairo for a conference.
I remember Kunle Oyero, a lawyer, Muabi Goodluck, a politician and Uche from the east were union leaders. So, they wanted to send people to Cairo. Only eight of us had international passports in the union. Unfortunately, mine had expired.
But Muabi Goodluck said he would renew it for me. They did and I believe it was the grace of God. They added my name to the list from across the nation. People were picked from Ibadan, Kaduna, east, Ilorin, Kano and everywhere.
They said there would be elections but without going to those places to campaign, I won. Finally, they picked me and got a ticket for me. I never believed in God. I was a drunkard and didn’t believe in prophecy or anything.
Connection to destiny helper
Well, we got to Cairo and realised it was a big conference. Inoculation was done from here back then but there was someone from the Ministry of Works, who didn’t do it here. So, they detained him at the Cairo airport and didn’t allow him in.
I collected the keys to his hotel room. I cooked for him and gave him the meal. He was happy. He was from Kwara state. After seven days, they allowed him in after doing the inoculation at the airport.
He was so elated by my caring attitude and just kept looking at me. The day we were leaving, he told me he was working in Dodan Barracks with former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon. He gave me his card to see him on arrival.
Becoming a gardener at Dodan Barracks
I risked it and went as he requested. There were many people at the gate that day but finally I scaled the hurdles. When he saw me, he literally hugged me from the grounds. He told everyone how I took care of him at Cairo.
He said he would help me and asked me to come on the next Thursday. When we met, he said I wouldn’t be able to do the work available but I said I would.
He said only two gardeners were in the entire Barracks and the Head of State was always complaining the flowers were not well watered. He asked if I could work as a gardener and I said yes. There and then, I got a job.
I was living in Mushin but will resume by 6am to water the flowers. Very soon, Gowon and his wife, Victoria started noticing me. They will just nod and move on after my greetings. The wife jocularly called me contractor for no reason at all. I would simply smile, take a bow and work on.
From gardener to government contractor
One day, they were sitting at the garden when the Head of State said, “Madam, calls you a contractor, are you a good contractor?” I just said ‘yes sir’. He asked if I could build dormitories for soldiers and I asked in the affirmative. I didn’t know where the confidence came from.
Long and short, he awarded me the contract to build the new dormitory for soldiers in Dodan Barracks. This was despite the fact that I had never handled any contract in my life. When I saw him, he spoke highly of me based on how I took care of the flowers and gardens.
He linked me to the Federal Director of Works, S.A Ajayi. Ajayi was a powerful government official then. He wondered how I got to know Gowon and won his heart. The dormitory I built is still there in Dodan Barracks. He supervised the contract himself every evening. He would always come with his son, Bala.
I made sure I executed the contract on time and very well. When that finished, he was happy and asked if I can build White House for him. The White House I awarded is also still there. From being an ordinary gardener, I became a big-time government contractor without lobbying or kick-backs. We worked round the clock because the mobilization was 50 percent upfront.
I didn’t stop working as a gardener while the contracts were ongoing. I worked so hard Gowon was impressed and literally made me the leading government contractor. I must say he never got any kobo from me. It was simply God at work in my life.
Life as a church man
When I gave birth to Bayo, my son, Christ The Saviour Church in Yaba came for the christening. The leader, Olufunsho Andrew, invited me to attend their services. That was how I became a member.
By then, I had a new 504 car and was a big man. The church was having an annual seven-day fast, which almost scared me off. The first time I fasted for seven days, I almost died. I became a committed church member. The first thing I did was to buy an organ for the church at a whopping N23, 000 then.
In 1977, I was told I could attend the pilgrimage. I was stunned but quickly paid tickets for myself, wife and two younger siblings. I saw the palace of Solomon in Jerusalem and the church he built for God.
That was how I told myself I must build church for God. I was almost 40 years then. I started building a church in Ilesha to mark my 40th birthday. I completed a beautiful edifice and invited King Sunny Ade to commission the church and mark my birthday. Despite my status, I was still working as a gardener and getting more contracts. I registered Solomon Niran and Sons Limited. The Army gave me a contract at Kanji. I built 27 Ranks and File barracks in Kanji.
Passion to build for God
When I couldn’t cope again, I handed over the gardening job to those there before. I also got eight blocks for the College of Education at Okene too. I didn’t know anything about bricklaying, let alone construction.
When I came back, I heard there were selling lands in Ikeja, Alausa. I bought 10 plots where I built Wuraola House before Alade Market. I built another church in Agege.
I didn’t think I would ever leave Christ The Saviour Church. We were about to celebrate the 52nd anniversary and we didn’t have N52,000. I suggested we should change the church to United Christ The Saviour Church. That was how opposition started. They said I wanted to snatch the church from them. They argued they fasted and prayed to get the name.
Becoming a church founder
When the issue became too strong, something just told me to build another church in Ikeja. I bought the parcel of land thrice. When they were demolishing Coker village, the leader of the gang, Almaroof, said he would not demolish Aluko’s church because I was a good man.
The church came to apologise that they just understood what I was saying. But it was too late. I had founded a new church. I gave them the one in Agege. We have about 14 branches across the world now. We started in 2000. We have our churches in America, UK and others.
Solomon Niran & Sons is still there but we hardly do much these days. I am fully committed to serving God. That is what matters to me now. God has been good to me and I owe Him a lot. The least I can do is to serve Him and humanity.
He bought me from nowhere to where I am today. I feel so grateful and indebted to Him. I will die serving Him because nothing I do is ever enough to reciprocate Him.
