The founder and presiding pastor of Salvation Ministries, David Ibiyeomie, has recounted a tense moment he shared with former Rivers State governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, during a critical political battle in the state.
Speaking during a church programme titled “Enjoying the Help of God Through Prophets” at the church’s headquarters in GRA, Port Harcourt, the cleric claimed that Mr Wike once called him “shaking on the phone” ahead of a court ruling that threatened his political ambition.
According to Mr Ibiyeomie, he reassured the politician during the call, telling him not to panic because “God would step in.”
Spiritual intervention
Recounting his role in the 58-year-old’s eventual emergence as governor, the author and televangelist said: “Wike came; he had lost in the High Court and in the Appeal Court, and a judgment had already been passed in the Supreme Court against him, not to be governor. I called him, and he was shaking on the phone. I was in Israel. I said, ‘Don’t fear. Don’t panic. God will step in.’ He said, ‘Papa, I believe.’ He was in the PDP; the APC was in power, and we were holding five nights of glory. After the five nights of glory, he woke up to me.
“The judgment was on Tuesday; the five nights were on Friday. I looked at him and said, ‘Even if the judgment is against you, I command it to be turned.’ It was not a money problem; he never had money because he was in the opposition. The judgment was already against him. They told me how the judgment would pass. Then the Chief Judge collected the case, changed the Supreme Court judges, and turned the case. He said, ‘Papa, I knew this was God. I was the only one invited during his Thanksgiving as a priest,” he said.
Wike’s second term
The clergyman further revealed that during Mr Wike’s campaign for a second term, obstacles and opposition appeared to work against him at every turn.
He emphasised that he entered into a covenant with God to make Mr Wike a governor, not for his (Mr Wike’s) sake, but for his own.
The clergyman said, “The second time he came, you all know, he was going to lose the election. They had arranged how he would lose the election, and somebody walked up to me and said, ‘You pray for Wike, and we’ll see how he will win.’ Asked him (Wike) any day. He sent me a note and said, ‘Papa, do I go off?’ I said, ‘Don’t go off. God will step in.’ He was shaking because everything was against him. And I covenanted with God. I gave millions on behalf of Wike.
“I didn’t tell him. I’m telling you today. I said, ‘Lord, not for his sake, for my sake, because the world will say, “Where is the God he serves?”’ I said, ‘For my sake, step in. Not because of him.’ And I prayed a prayer. The day they were to change the result to give it to one young man called Awara, they had already finished it. On the spot, something happened. The High Commissioner stepped into INEC. They couldn’t change the result. That’s how he became governor the second time.”
Mr Ibiyeomie also revealed the role he played in the emergence of Rotimi Amaechi as the state’s governor.
He noted that Mr Amaechi, who served as governor of the oil-rich state from 2007 to 2015, approached him for spiritual intervention, believing he could help secure the office for him.
Mr Ibiyeomie noted, “Amaechi came; he was not the one who was supposed to be governor of Rivers State. Go and ask him—he will tell you. They had given it to someone else. I won’t call the person’s name. Then Amaechi walked up to my office and said, ‘Sir, I know you’re a man of God. I’m a Catholic. Can you pray for me? I want to be governor of the River State.’
“I smiled and asked, ‘Why do you want me to pray?’ He replied, ‘I know. If they don’t give it to the person they gave it to, I’m not even number two. I’m number three.’ He was telling me this on Monday, when the primaries were on Saturday. I was fasting, that was the 42nd day of my fast. We had a programme that year which I will never forget. It was in the stadium. He drove himself to the gate in a Range Rover and parked. He said, ‘I must see this man of God today.’
Reversed ticket
Mr Ibiyeomie added that he asked the 60-year-old what he desired, and he replied, ‘governor.’
He noted that he prayed for him, after which the previously issued ticket was revoked.
He maintained that the former Minister of Transportation collapsed upon reaching his office.
“He called somebody over 16 times. He said, ‘Whoever this man of God is, I must see him.’ He walked to my office. He stood up and fell. How many of you were in church when he testified? He stood up and fell. It was the first time he had seen the anointing of a Pentecostal. And I said, ‘What do you want?’ He said, ‘I want to be governor.’ I smiled and shook my head.
“I said, ‘Genesis 37:7.’ I looked at him and said, ‘I’ll pray for you. Whoever gave that ticket, bow, return it, and give it back to you.’ Forty-five minutes after I prayed, his phone rang. The man in charge called him: ‘I’ve changed my mind. Give it to him,” said the clergyman.
Peter Odili
Mr Ibiyeomie added that he once prayed for Peter Odili to become governor.
Mr Odili served from 1999 to 2007 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before handing over to Mr Amaechi.
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He recalled that, at the time he prayed for the 77-year-old, his opponent’s secretary, who was a member of his church, pleaded with him not to pray for Odili but for her own boss instead.
“A man came on the scene and called Peter Odili to be governor. Another man who contested with him was a member of a white-garment church. Peter Odili was not to be reckoned with as a governor. Everybody said this man in the white garment might beat him. I came out with a holy anger. I said a man in bare feet cannot win. I didn’t care. I didn’t know if Peter Odili was our neighbour, but I said this man would be governor and the other would not. The man contesting him was more popular than he was.
“I said no way. I was not at this level at all. The man’s secretary happened to be a member of our church. He said to me, ‘Papa, what are you talking about? I’m the secretary. You mean my oga will not win?’ I said, ‘Your oga will not win for walking about in bare feet.’ And I said, ‘Peter Odili will be governor.’ He said, ‘Why not? Pray for my oga.’ I said, ‘I will not pray for him. He can’t be walking about barefoot and become governor.’”
The clergyman added that he had not yet reached this level of Christian maturity when all of that occurred.