In this interview with Ngumah Isaac, Pastor David Adepoju, Senior Pastor of New Life Eternal Ministry, shares his views on the state of the nation since President Bola Tinubu assumed power, as well as his ongoing work in the Lord’s vineyard. Find excerpts below:
​President Bola Tinubu is three years in the saddle as President. What is your rating of his government?
Democracy is not a one-man show. We have the judiciary, the legislature, and the executive; so, we have to look at these arms of government too. But then, he is in charge of the armed forces and the buck stops at his table.
​What we have to understand is that the governments of this world will continue to struggle; things won’t simply get better on their own. It is a biblical prophecy of the end times. There will be famine, problems, and challenges here and there.
​That said, my view has always been that we operate a faulty system. Nigeria should go back to a regional government system whereby each region controls its resources. That will create a better Nigeria. If that is not done, we will keep complaining. When Buhari was there, there was unrest and everybody shouted, yet he completed his eight years. Perhaps if Tinubu gets a second term, I am hopeful he will implement regional government.
​Looking at his administration over the last three years, I think he has done well in terms of infrastructure. The subsidy removal is a good thing because it has helped to provide more funds for the running of the states. No state has had to go borrow money from the World Bank or IMF recently, and some major roads in Nigeria have been fixed.
​The government should, however, realize that the cost of fuel is biting hard and transportation costs are extremely high. I think the government should look into that area. While we commend the removal of the subsidy, the vital question should be: how does the ordinary man benefit from it? That is where the government needs to be responsive to the plight of the people.
​What is your immediate response to the kidnapping and insecurity in the land? Some have used this sore point to deride the government.
​I think it is politically motivated. But like someone once said, if insurgency lasts for more than 24 hours, the government knows about it and knows how to tackle it. People will always criticize the government of the day. When Jonathan was president, the Chibok girls were kidnapped. It is the same game being played. If Tinubu leaves office now, the trouble will likely continue.
​The current system operating in Nigeria invariably affects any government in power. Nigeria needs to change its constitution. The 1999 Constitution is fundamentally flawed; it cannot help us. I believe the adoption of a regional government framework will make state police a reality, and that will greatly help to tackle insecurity in Nigeria.
​Do you agree that there is serious persecution against Christians, given the rate at which they are being killed, which even informed the past intervention of Donald Trump?
​The killing of Christians did not start today. The apostles of old were beheaded and killed. The Bible says a time will come when believers will be killed and those who kill them will think they are doing God a favor. It did not start today.
​Let’s talk about your ministry. How did you start, and how has it been over the last 29 years that you have been in ministry?
​When God first called me in 1979, I was reluctant. But I finally yielded to the call in 1993, which was when I went into full-time ministry. Around that time, I had a revelation during which Christ Jesus appeared to me and gave me assurance about my calling. That was what convinced me to plant a church. The Lord provided a place of worship for us, and from there, we started establishing branches. When Christ appeared to me, He wrote the name of my ministry, signed it, and handed it to me. That is why my primary goal in ministry is for souls to be saved.
​It has been challenging since we started. In fact, I could write a whole book about my experiences. But God has been faithful. Presently, we focus heavily on evangelism and outreach. We have a team of evangelists who go out to preach the raw gospel. We also run an online program where we address issues concerning salvation and the redemption of souls. Our Sunday School, Monday Bible Study, midweek services, and vigils serve as vital channels through which people are blessed and equipped for ministry work.
​Currently, we have about seven branches within Nigeria as well as fellowship groups in some foreign countries. My goal is to lay a continuous foundation of integrity, faithfulness, truthfulness, and holiness in ministry. We are going to be 30 years old next year. All the branches will come together here to worship, organize seminars, and reach out to orphans, widows, and the less privileged.
​What are your views on the coming elections and how the church can ensure the right persons are elected?
​The church can only pray and offer good counsel. God has not asked the church to dabble directly into politics. Our call is to make disciples of all nations and prepare the way of the Lord. We are to preach to politicians so that they might embrace the saving grace of Christ and do the right thing while in office.
​The church’s core mandate is to build disciples for Christ. When you build people, they, in turn, build a nation. The church remains focused on transforming the lives of individuals to become better citizens, which ultimately leads to a better nation.
