The meeting, which took place in an atmosphere of humility, honour and friendship, marks another chapter in Suleman’s ongoing efforts to bridge faith and leadership across Africa.
Both leaders displayed brotherly warmth during the visit.
Social media users have hailed the youth empowerment programme of Apostle Johnson Suleman’s Youth Empowerment.
The programme, aimed at equipping young people with skills, opportunities and resources for personal and professional development, has been widely praised for its transformative impact on countless youths across the nation.
The latest event, in collaboration with various community leaders and organisations, benefitted hundreds of participants who engaged in workshops, mentorship sessions and career-building activities.
Many expressed gratitude for the programme on social media, sharing testimonials and success stories from past beneficiaries.
Suleman, the founder of Omega Fire Ministries, has been an advocate of youth empowerment, emphasizing the importance of investing in young people as a means to build a stronger and more prosperous society.
With the programme’s growing online presence, it is clear that the initiative continues to inspire and uplift young individuals, providing them with the tools needed to succeed in an ever-evolving world.
The renowned senior pastor and general overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman, is celebrating 20 years of marriage to his wife, Lizzy.
In a heartwarming tribute posted on social media, Apostle Suleman expressed his deepest gratitude to his wife for her unwavering support, friendship, and peace.
He wrote on Instagram: “Happy anniversary to 26 years of friendship and 20 years of marital glory. Thanks, Lizzy for being a blessing and a gift to me. Thanks for the peace you give. Thank you, Lord, for life, health and blessings…It’s my 20th marriage anniversary. Say a prayer for us…”
Wednesday, February 28, 2024, is expected to be a regular day except for individuals or groups that have to plan to attend an occasion.
However, the day has been scheduled for big plans by popular clergy, Apostle Johnson Suleman, who is leaving no stone unturned to celebrate his beautiful wife Reverend (Mrs.) Johnson Suleman on the occasion of her birthday.
Apart from sharing cakes and spoiling her with gifts, Apostle Suleman, who is in the habit of regularly celebrating his heartthrob like a special partner in the work of God, is planning another big celebration to mark Mrs Suleman’s birthday.
Reverend Lizzy Suleman is not just a wife for the kitchen, she also partners to do amazing things for God and His Kingdom, standing by and holding the hands of her husband in the work of ministry. It is the reason she is described in his note as the ‘most expensive gift any man could ever ask God for as a wife’. He has also promised to celebrate her more beautifully than he ever had done.
As she rolls out the drums next Wednesday, Reverend Suleman vows to continue to use the grace of the celebration to extend spiritual care and share humanitarian gestures among members of her hubby’s ministry, Omega Fire Ministry, and Nigerians in general.
As a way to show appreciation to God for the opportunity of another eventful year, she has given out clothes and food to thousands of people, including the widows.
She has blessed people with cash sums in millions, paid school fees of indigent students worth millions, and visited orphanage homes with expensive gifts. These, she says, are just a fraction of what she plans to do next to glorify God.
In following the footsteps of his Lord and master, Jesus Christ, who fed 5000 men with five loaves of bread and two fish, the General Overseer and most senior pastor, Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman has fed hundreds of migrants at the Guatemalan Border in Mexico as part of his humanitarian aid and individual contribution to making the world a better place for all.
The #TouchoflovewithApostleSuleman feeding initiative which was done under his Touch Of Love Foundation that began several years ago and touching the Mexico-U.S city border in October, 2023, is one of the several interventions of the Apostle to the migrants who are currently facing severe dehumanizing conditions and dangers while trying to cross into the United States.
At a migrant shelter in a church provided by an evangelical minister, Pastor Victor Barrientos in the Mexico border town of Matamoros, Apostle Suleman not only fed the migrants himself but also prayed for God’s intervention in their situations.
Meanwhile, It is on records that Apostle Suleman is a man of God that has been feeding thousands of people for many years now in different cities. For instance, in Nigeria, it has become a routine that every week, he feeds thousands of Nigerians as well as helps many poor people in Auchi, Edo state and many other places. Papa, as he is fondly called, has been feeding his congregation every Saturday for many years now as well as providing several other assistances such as free healthcare to women and children, scholarships to the youths and financial assistance to the poor.
For instance, just last year, Apostle Suleman donated N20 million naira to the Benue State government to provide welfare and other basic needs to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state. Also, in 2019 and 2020 when the Corona Virus caused massive hardship and other challenges on Nigerians, the man of God still came to the rescue as he donated N10 million naira each to four northern states as well as a N5 million naira donation to support the IDPs in Benue.
The General Overseer’s philanthropic gestures has endeared him in the hearts of many, including past Nigerian presidents who sent encomiums to him, including while they were still in government. For instance, the immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari as well as former president Goodluck Jonathan had these to say of him:
While then President Buhari described him as a spiritual leader whose “influence and generosity, especially to the poor and underprivileged continues to resonate,” former president Goodluck Jonathan had described Apostle Johnson Suleman as a “worthy example of a believer in faith, doctrine and charity.” He further said of Apostle Suleman thus: “ You have distinguished yourself as a man of strong devotion who is steadfast in the task of reconciling men to Christ and offering hope to many.”
So, because of his philanthropism, Apostle Johnson Suleman won the Edo Man of the Year award at the 10th edition of the Edo Festival and Awards ceremony (EFAC) held in London, the United Kingdom (UK) last year.
Meanwhile, the migrants at the Mexico-U.S border whom he fed have become part of the new multitude that has come to benefit from the philanthropic gestures of the man of God.
Apostle Suleman not only fed them but also made a cash donation of 100, 000 Mexican Pesos to the evangelical ministry led by the Mexican pastor, Victor Barrientos who has been providing shelter and other assistance to migrant families in Mexico from his church.
While making the donations and feeding the migrants, Apostle Johnson Suleman thanked the pastor for providing aids to migrants and promised to come back in few months’ time to further assist the migrants.
He said, “Pastor Victor, God bless you. How many of you know that Pastor Victor in Matamoros is doing a great job? And I want to thank you and say God bless you. In the next few months, I am going to be here again.”
“We will be here again and we will keep supporting you for all you do for the immigrants, all you do for the people and all you do for the rejected.”
“What you are doing is what I am doing in my country, and I understand. So, congratulations and God bless you.”
While praying for the immigrants, Apostle Suleman prayed saying, “May the Lord grant your requests and open your door, give you all testimonies and show you mercy in Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Why Help Migrants:
It has become a stark reality for thousands of migrants who, following delays in processing their papers, get stuck in Mexico every year while trying to cross into U.S. The migrants are often from across the globe, including from Nigeria, Venezuela, Cuba and Haiti and from Colombia, Panama and Honduras, among many other countries. Most times, these migrants walk on foot, from the city of Tapachula, near the Guatemalan border or from the Mexican border city of Matamoros towards the U.S boarder.
According to a report by AFP, about 3000 migrants walked on foot from a Mexican city to the U.S boarder on 30th October, 2023 alone in efforts to cross into the United States.
But walking on foot is just the least of the many harrowing situations and dangers that these migrants face in Mexico daily. Apart from the humanitarian crisis such as hunger, diseases and lack of shelter, migrants also face grave conditions like kidnappings, torture, extortion, rape, other forms of abuse and very commonly, death. Consequently, the Mexican border city of Matamoros has become one of the most notorious places for many suddenly missing migrants who end up dead or trafficked for various kinds of dehumanizing reasons.
A recent report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in a 2023 release tagged, Missing Migrants Project (MMP), said it documented about 686 deaths and disappearances of migrants on the US-Mexico border in 2022 alone, making it the deadliest land route for migrants worldwide on record.
Also, the report said while 696 migrant deaths were recorded in 2018 alone, in 2019 and 2020, 854 and 798 migrant deaths were recorded on the US-Mexico border, respectively.
Therefore, It is on this note that the popular Nigerian Apostle and great philanthropist, Apostle Johnson Suleman, brought succor to the thousands of migrants in Mexico through his Touch of Love Foundation.
Aside food and prayers, he also donated 100, 000 Mexican Pesos for the continuous assistance to migrants.
Expressing his joys over the assistance from Apostle Suleman, pastor Victor thanked the firebrand pastor, saying it is the first time ever that he was receiving financial support and food assistance from a man of God in his efforts of helping migrants.
He said, “Apostle, I am so grateful to God because God is the one that provides…Thank you so much.”
“In Matamoros, there are men that are called men of God. They only come and preach and then they leave.”
He said that Apostle Suleman not only came and preached but that he also provided food, served the food himself to the migrants and equally donated financially.
The Touch Of Love initiative of Apostle Johnson Suleman began many years ago and has helped millions of people in Nigeria and many other countries of the world. Papa, as he is fondly called, has been feeding his congregation every Saturday for many years now as well as providing several other assistances to people such as free healthcare to women and children, scholarships to the youths and financial assistance to the poor.
In a massive, dramatic U-turn, Miss Stephanie Otobo, has apologised to founder of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide (OFM), Apostle Johnson Suleman, who she accused of impregnating and breaching a promise to marry her.
Otobo, in a confession video on the church Facebook page yesterday, declared she was sponsored by “very strong and powerful politicians and pastors” to defame the popular preacher.
In the video, which has gone viral on social media, she said: “They paid me a lot of money,” wiping tears from her eyes.
Suleman’s wife, Lizzy, in turn addressed the congregation, asking them to forgive Otobo, after confession of her sins.
A commentary by the church in the video on the dramatic confession, said: “The only offense he committed was to have intervened in the numerous heinous crimes against the Church of Christ around the Nation and became a Voice for the Gospel.
“What followed was a well – doctored drama to attack the reputation of this Golden Voice and seemingly reduce the volume of his voice even as more evils were planned against the Church.
“After all the evil efforts, the secret agendas, the heavily funded set-up and the unrelenting pursuits to snare an innocent man, they were futile.
“The master planner has finally vindicated his church and his servant.
“This is not only a victory for God’s Servant; it is a victory for the Body of Christ and The Church in Nigeria,” the post read.
Otobo’s counsel, Festus Keyamo, told an online newspaper Premium Times he could not confirm or deny the video.
“We saw the video online on Saturday morning but we are yet to get any formal statement from Stephanie confirming or debunking the video.
“We are lawyers and we only act on our client’s instructions. So, we don’t have any comment on the matter,” he said.
On what will become of the pending court case, he said: “No comment, we are waiting to hear from our client first before we know the next line of action.”
The actress who came from Canada said she accepted the proposal of the unnamed powerful politicians and pastors because she was assured it would help her career.
Last year, She accused Suleman of failing to keep a marriage promise made to her.
She filed a petition asking the police to investigate multiple allegations against the preacher.
Last November, the preacher also filed a defamation suit against her at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja.
The hearing was stalled following the latter’s absence in court.
The presiding judge, Adedayo Oyebanji, adjourned the matter until February 7.
Nollywood actor, Leo Mezie, has thrown his weight behind Apostle Johnson Suleman, General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries (OFM) Worldwide, who is facing allegations bordering on sexual exploitations from a Canadian-based strip dancer, Stephanie Otobo.
Taking to his Instagram account, Mezie who recovered from a kidney ailment last year, posted a picture of himself and Suleman and wrote a lengthy note of how Suleman paid N8m to settle his medical bills in the UK despite the fact that they had not met.
“I have been reading different stories from different medium on apostle Sulaiman and one Stephenie Otobo and the different comments. Some people were even saying why will apostle send money to someone he has never met. My heart bleeds because apostle Sulaiman never met me before he helped me. I have never heard of him or met him before and immediately he heard my story he verified it and contacted me.
“This is a man I have never seen or heard of and he sent me 8million to settle my medical bills in UK. He was also constantly checking on me and even sent members of his church in UK to always check up on me, Pastor Ejiro and Pastor Daniella Williams to mention but a few.
“Immediately , I returned I went to see him to thank him. So saying why must he send money to someone he hasn’t seen doesn’t make sense. Note, The apostle Sulaiman I know and I’ve met several times doesn’t travel alone he goes with a large entourage any where he goes in the word.
“Secondly, Apostle Sulaiman is so proud of his family and his wife in particular is a sermon in his mouth, thirdly, apostle Sulaiman maybe friendly and extremely jovial but will never ever take indecent pictures of himself or with anybody as this Stephenie Otobo is claiming.
“Fourthly, his generosity and act of giving will not kill him or put him in trouble not one million Stephenie otobos will stop him because it is his call to service. I Leo mezie is a benefactor of it! Finally, I will rather not curse Stephenie Otobo but I will pray for her that the good lord will show her mercy in Jesus name Amen.”
The Department of State Services (DSS) yesterday held ‘a friendly chat’ with Apostle Johnson Suleman, the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, for allegedly delivering hate sermon.
The cleric was still with the agency as at 8.30pm.
The session was preceded by interventions from some eminent Nigerians and religious leaders.
It was learnt that Apostle Suleman arrived at the DSS office at about 7.32pm without his lawyers.
A top source said: “The cleric has honoured the invitation of DSS and the agency has started interaction with him.
“He actually did not go in with any lawyer in line with earlier interventions by some highly-placed Nigerians and religious leaders.
“The security agency is managing the interaction in a friendly manner in order to avoid any acts capable of stoking political or religious tension in the country.”
Asked if the cleric would be detained, the source added: “No one can say.”
A DSS source said: “We are already interacting with Apostle Suleman.”
The Christian Youth Project (CYP) has stated that the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries (OFM), Apostle Johnson Suleiman, should not have been treated as a criminal by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
It condemned the continuous killing of Christians by Fulani herdsmen in northern Nigeria, especially in Southern Kaduna, stressing that injustice anywhere will be a threat to justice everywhere.
CYP, through its National President, Pepple Ibiwari Jnr., stated these yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, during a news conference.
It said: “We (CYP members) strongly and unequivocally condemn in totality, the ridicule and public embarrassment of Apostle Suleiman by the DSS.
“Apostle Suleiman, being a religious leader and a public personality of high repute, should have initially been invited to clarify himself, as being done now and not treat him like a common criminal. Religious matters are very delicate. As such, should be treated with caution, to avoid misrepresentation of such actions on Christians.
“This should not be a new trend that has started with Apostle Suleiman, which may also be targeted at other Christian leaders. We call on Christians to be vigilant and security conscious, to avoid being victims of religious and hate attacks.
“The gospel of Jesus Christ advocates love and peace, not hate. As such, Christian youths do not conform to religious crisis or killings on any grounds.
“While we appreciate the DSS and other security agencies in ensuring peace and security in Nigeria, we call for intensified efforts to put a final stop to the continuous and increasing killing of Christians by Fulani herdsmen. We await the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.”
The non-denominational coalition of Christian youths from churches, Christian organisations and groups across Nigeria also expressed displeasure at religious intolerance and hate speeches in Nigeria, while admonishing Christians not to be stupid or foolish.
The group urged Christians in the country to be more united and to always speak with one voice, in order to earn the respect of other Nigerians.
The President, Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Mr Johnson Suleman, has said his invitation by the Department of State Services (DSS) is in order.
Suleman said this while briefing reporters in Abuja on Monday.
“I presume the right thing was done. They have been in touch with me to come and that is why I am in Abuja, so that I can see them,” he said.
He said that his recent statement was based on information from a reliable source that herdsmen were coming to attack him.
He said that he stood by his statement on self defence.
“I was talking in my personal capacity on information from a reliable source that certain people in the capacity of Herdsmen were coming to attack me and I told the people around me that if it happens they should defend themselves.
Suleman had told his supporters at a religious crusade in Ekiti recently to defend themselves if they were attacked by herdsmen.
However, Suleiman had yet to report to the DSS office yesterday.
There was heavy presence of policemen and the DSS personnel with Amoured Personnel Carrier (APC) around the services’ headquarters.
The cleric had earlier been invited for interrogation by the DSS at its headquarters in Abuja, based on his recent alleged inciting comments that Christians should defend themselves against attacks by Fulani herdsmen.
The Department of State Security Service (DSS) yesterday formally invited the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman for interrogation, four days after its botched attempt to arrest him in Akure.
Suleman indicated last night that he would honour the invitation.
But he also dismissed insinuations that he was inciting one segment of the society against the other or that he hated Muslims and Fulanis.
The DSS, in a letter to Suleman, whose church is based in Auchi, asked him to report at its headquarters in Abuja tomorrow “for an interview by 10am over an inciting statement.”
An attempt by operatives of the agency to arrest Suleman in his hotel room in Ado-Ekiti was aborted by Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State who rushed to the hotel and took the pastor to the Government House.
Suleman was in the state for a crusade.
A top source said: “The service decided to invite Apostle Suleman to interact with him on whether or not he delivered any hard sermon and what informed it. Such interaction can reveal the mindset of such a person.
“There is no way the security service can be silent on any act capable of breaching the nation’s security.
“After the interaction with him, we will determine the next step. It can be in form of caution, signing undertaking or whatever the law says. It will be preemptive to say anything on the invitation.”
When contacted, Apostle Suleman’s Communications Adviser, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, said: “The General Overseer has received an invitation from DSS.
“Even though the invitation is ridiculous, as a law-abiding citizen, Apostle Johnson Suleiman will honour it.
“We also consider the invitation as an afterthought after the botched attempt to arrest Apostle Suleman.”
Suleman, in a statement yesterday, denied hating Muslims or Fulanis as being speculated in some quarters.
He said he merely asked members of his church to kill herdsmen who move close to the church’s headquarters in Auchi, Edo State.
Suleman said he was moved to make the call based on the mindless killings across the nation by Fulani herdsmen.
He said his driver in Lagos and Chief Security Officer of the church in Auchi are Muslims in whom he has absolute confidence.
Suleman also said some of his friends are Fulanis while a number of his family members are still Muslims, most of whom have benefitted from his philanthropic gestures.
He said: “I have friends as Fulanis. I have members as Fulanis in our northern churches.
“I have a driver who drives me whenever I am in Lagos, he is a Muslim. He has been driving me for years till date.
“I have bought him two cars as well. If I am not tolerant, a Muslim should not be driving me.
“I discovered that the Chief Security Officer (of our church) was also a Muslim. Yes, he was a Muslim supervising the security unit our church.
“Funny enough, majority of my callers on this issue have been Muslims; they have re-echoed what I said on the tape and do not hold contrary views about it.”
He said that killings by herdsmen must be tackled collectively to save the nation, saying many of them were carrying out too many nefarious activities.
“I do not have issues with the Fulani people; I have seen and read of some good people from there. I have also seen extremely nice Muslims.
“For example, the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is a Fulani man and also a Muslim. There was a church that was destroyed in his province, he personally rebuilt it.
“The Fulani people who are very enlightened understand the intricacies in this matter and most of them have been speaking with me.
“Whereas the herdsmen who are the perpetrators of this evil are happy with these developments because it has become a religious problem and this is part of my anger,” Suleman explained.
He went on: “There are still real Fulani herdsmen who are nomads and still taking care of their cattle everywhere.
“They carry sticks around. But these particular (killer) herdsmen carry guns, sophisticated weapons and the likes.
“I have made it clear that my anger is with the Fulani herdsmen and my point is; that no one should lay down to be killed by these people. Only cowards do that.
“And I stand my ground that the herdsmen who are killing should be dealt with.”
Earlier in a separate statement in Abuja on Wednesday, Shaibu said the church “wondered why its General Overseer could be so harassed for merely expressing his opinion on the menace of Fulani herdsmen, when freedom of expression is one of the rights guaranteed by the nation’s Constitution.
“The Fulani militia, masquerading as herdsmen have stated that they are going to kill him.
“Everyone knows that they are armed with AK47 and have already killed over 7000 persons in Nigeria. Women have been raped and houses destroyed.
“Yet, not one of them has been caught or is being prosecuted by the DSS or Federal Government.
“Are we saying that the man should fold his arms and allow the same Fulani militia to kill him?
“Is he wrong to give his security aides orders that they should kill any of the so called herdsmen found near him or his church? Is there nothing like self defence in our law?” he asked.
Shaibu said that the firebrand pastor’s message which may have drawn the ire of the DSS and the Federal Government was directed at the Fulani militia, in the guise of herdsmen,that have openly declared intention to kill him.
Shaibu said even if the comments made by Apostle Suleman were found to be inciting , as alleged by the SSS, “a government that believes in robust debate as a means of strengthening democracy would simply have invited him for explanation , rather than attempting to kidnap him.
“We expected a more civilized conduct from a government that promised Change.”
“What most people do not know is that Apostle Suleiman’s father was a Muslim. He was born into a Muslim family.
“He has brothers and sisters that are Muslims and enjoy very cordial relationship with them.
“So to brand him anti Islam or anti Muslim is being mischievous or taking apostle’s message out of context,” he stated.
