The Presiding Prelate of Bible Pattern Evangelical Mission, Port-Harcourt, Bishop Benjamin Solomon, clocked 50 recently. He spoke with Precious Dikewoha on his life, church and the nation. Excerpts
WHat are you biggest memories as you clock 50?
Actually, there are many major events in my life that are unforgettable. I could remember that I was struck with the spirit of death at the age of five and there was no hope that I could survive. My parent lost hope, everyone lost hope. It was from one ritual house to another to ensure that I survive. But when my father discovered that it was clear that I will die because of the satanic attacks, he became worried about the whole thing.
My father himself also ran away from his hometown in 1930 because of the fear of death. So when he heard that his son was dying, he came back and took me to Sapale to watch over me. To God be the glory today I am alive.
Another remarkable thing is how I got born again. It was in the means of struggling with the spirit of death in 1976 that I gave my life to God. There was no hope that I will survive but with the ministry of Archbishop Idahosa, I was able to receive one of his books.
I read it and believe what he said in the book. That was how I got my salvation. Unexpectedly I saw myself in the ministry doing the work of God. I started as an evangelist and later find myself as a pastor. Today God has been doing a wonderful work through me and we have celebrated many testimonies through my ministry.
What were these childhood attacks all about?
The power of death was on me. To be specific, whenever good thing wanted to happen in my live, this spirit will reoccur. I find myself dying and waking up and at that point. I understand that my future was at stake. That mean I must die, I knew I will die and my father also knew I will die.
So while struggling with the strange spirit, I heard that Jesus can save. So I said if the power of God upon me can do this for me I will serve him all the days of my life. I discovered that Jesus can change all things and make a difference in my life.
So it is the fear to escape death that led me to Christ. Though, there are different ways that God bring people to serve him, because in my family the whole thing was clear that men don’t survive but women can survive. As I am talking to you in my own generation I am the last man standing.
So, how has life been at 50?
I believe strongly that I am expecting another phase of my life because God is taking me somewhere. I have a lot of testimonies to share. I have been in this work for over three decades. I got born again early enough and since then it has been one scenario and the other.
To God’s glory one of the things that really shocked my life was the proof that Jesus is real. When God met me and said ‘this is what I want you to do for me’, I wasn’t really interested. When you see pastors in those days, you can hardly admire them. Even their parents cried for them.
So when it became clear that I will become a pastor, I struggled very hard to escape it. My father was never happy with me. In fact, it’s like telling my father to commit suicide. I came from a family background that valued education so much with well- placed in the society. That his only son will now be somebody addressed as pastor was unthinkable.
It wasn’t easy but I thank God that at the end I answered the divine call. When God called me in 1985-1986 that I was going to work in His vineyard as a deliverance minister, I cried.
But I said to myself this is not what God wants for me but God proved to me that power belongs to Him. Honestly, God proves to me that if He can use Apostle Peter he can use me. Today through my hands many have escaped death and through my hands different kinds of healing and miracles had taken place in the name of Jesus and not by my power.
Why did you protest the ultimatum given to President Jonathan by the Northern elders?
I protested because I don’t like seeing people playing politics of bitterness. When they made that statement, I said to myself if the northern elders can give such commands, it means they had hands in the abduction of the Chibok girls. They knew where they were kept. And to stop Jonathan from contesting is to ensure that he didn’t get to know the hideouts of the abducted girls.
With the assistance of America in the fight against insurgency, I know it will take them more time to achieve result because American have not done enough in fighting terrorism in Africa. They were in Iraq for many years, including other African countries without being able to achieve enough results.
It took them over ten years before they could get Bin Laden because I knew that it will take them time to achieve result here in Nigeria. What we need now is the cooperation of the Northern elders. A lot has been said against Jonathan due to the activities of the Boko Haram in the North. There was a time when one of the northerners said if Jonathan will not contest in 2015 the issue of Boko Haram will be over.
I think the Federal government itself is not helping matters. They should have published the names of those sponsoring Boko Haram because that is the only way we could know the truth of this insurgency.
You supported the recent sack of resident doctors. How do you feel now that they are back to work?
When you look at the state of the nation, you will discover that because of freedom of expression people are agitating for one thing or the other and also protesting for their rights. Look at how desperate people can be when doctors went on strike without considering that the country is in need of their service with the outbreak of Ebola.
For me the Federal government shouldn’t have changed its mind on the sack directive. I wanted them sacked for abandoning their duties at the critical time. Look, you can’t hold the country to ransom for things that could cripple the nation. If you ask me I think the National Assembly has not tried enough to contain these incessant strikes.
I don’t think there is any developed country where health and education workers go on strike as it is in Nigeria. The National Assembly can put a stop to this strike by dialoguing with the Federal government while their operation is going on and not keeping the nation on standstill. It is only in Nigeria where education sector is being closed down for one year. But this can be handled. I also think that why people are agitating for increased of welfare and other pays is because of the huge amount of money been taken home by public office holders.
So if a professor in the University cannot boast of N1million in two months and a House of the Assembly member gets N100 million in two months it is irritating. People are not happy seeing those entrusted with their votes becoming millionaires overnight while they are living in misery.
In Rivers State, many believe that there will be deaths in 2015. What is the church doing to avert this looming calamity?
Right now, Churches in Nigeria are not sleeping. We are watchmen; I want to assure the people that 2015 elections will be peaceful. The transition we are going into is going to take people unawares because many of those who are fighting as if Nigeria is their own property will not be alive see the election.
The church is seriously praying that those who want to cause problem in Rivers State will be crushed to death. Rivers State has been peaceful since I came to the state. And what happened in other states hardly happen here.
2015 elections will be peaceful because the children of God have already prayed and decreed just like the powers of darkness is working harder to get innocent blood. So we are also awake to ensure that no blood is being made available for the agents of darkness.
To get victory is to always pray for Nigeria. God has revealed that any politician who wants to cause crisis or take human life for his or her selfish interest will die before the Election Day. This is a guarantee that there will be free and fair election in 2015. There are forces working against the peace of this country because they make their wealth through crisis.
So they are bent to ensure that the country does not have peace. Of course, the only solution is fasting and prayer.
