Death has earned many names over time; An unwanted outsider, lurking in the darkness waiting to reap indiscriminately from the lot; and thus, to prove its name, few days back it stole from the world a man so mired in the enigma and webs of his believers, that some of his congregants believed he was a true prophet even likening him to Moses of the old.
Born in Ondo state, West Nigeria, the late Temitope Balogun Joshua sunk in the vase of faith and belief at a young age and in a whisker, he founded the first synagogue Church in Ikotun-Ugbe.
A charismatic pastor he was with followings all over the world. He enjoyed tales about his miracle prowess that travelled before him far and beyond, even reaching the huge ears of CNN where his miraculous story was first aired.
In Kenya for instance, his ardent believers sometimes sold properties to source cash for travelling and accommodation all in the effort of earning his audience in Nigeria eye to eye.
However, despite his mouth gaping achievements ranging from open miracles, healing of the sick and breaking malicious spells, he also gave speech to the deaf and mobility to the lame, and yet despite all this, he had a generous number of critics in his midst.
The suspicious ones doubted any other man but Jesus could perform the said miracles especially those dealing with death and resurrection, but still Joshua trampled across them to earn even more followings…his crowd swelling to a million.
But on Sunday, the mighty Prophet of God breathed his last, after holding his last church service.
His death, as controversial as his miracles.
And even as the world awaits the postmortem results, his followers are buried deep in their sea of tears.
Indeed, Nigeria and the entire crusaders family fraternity have not only lost a gem…but a man of God and a very prudent crowd puller who was amongst the first faithful to initiate the controversial program where clothes, handkerchiefs and bandana were anointed for safety.
That being said however, certain critics believe that through his demise, the churches have been cleansed of a very powerful hogwash.
Either way, believe him or not, TB Joshua will go down in the books of history, as an ardent influencer who manipulated the course and view of modern religion.
Rest well with the Angels, Prophet.
