Posted by By MOSHOOD ADEBAYO, Abeokuta on
German gospel preacher, Reinhard Bonnke, may be a regular visitor to Nigeria, but he may not know he has a namesake in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
German gospel preacher, Reinhard Bonnke, may be a regular visitor to Nigeria, but he may not know he has a namesake in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The preacher is not the father of the child but the boy was delivered at his crusade ground four years ago.
Mrs Ajibola Bello, mother of Nigeria's Bonnke oversees a canteen at NUJ secretariat, Abeokuta. A graduate of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, she told Daily Sun how she was delivered of the baby boy who has brought her fame among people.
"As a pregnant woman then, I had gone to the crusade ground, which took place at the back of the MKO Stadium to pray and receive anointing from the acclaimed international preacher.
"After fervent prayers, which lasted hours, I became uneasy as a result of the heat. To my surprise, after a while, I fell into labour and after some minutes, I was delivered of a bouncing baby boy who people later nicknamed Bonnke".
Why Bonnke? "It is a way of honouring the great international evangelist and because when my own Bonnke was born, he had curled hair which resembles that of an European. He is a lucky boy who has also brought fortune into the family."
It is the wish of Mama Bonnke that her son becomes an international preacher, like his namesake. Aside this, she also prays that he becomes a medical doctor.
"I want him to study Medicine so that when I get old, he can take care of my medical needs along with his siblings," Ajibola stated.
"Aside from taking care of me at old age, the profession will also make him self-reliant and responsible for the challenges of life, but let me add that he is free to be whatever he wants to be in life. I will not force any profession on him."
A graduate of Banking and Finance from the OOU, Ajibola, when reminded that she ought to be working in a commercial bank, said: "My brother, there is nothing like being in business. I like business, maybe because I and my siblings were brought up in it".
"My mother introduced us into food selling when I was young. I was in primary school then, I'm used to it. I don't pray to work under anyone, no matter the salary offered.
"Over time, I have learnt that there is nothing like being self-reliant. Although it involves many challenges and risks, it pays after all. I was born into this business and I am not in a hurry to leave it. Maybe you don't know sir, my mother used to work at the Ogun Oshun Development Authority Guest House. There, we used to help her serve people. Even when she left and later opened a local canteen at Oke-Sokori and Ago-Ika, I was always with her, during which I learnt the tricks of the business. In fact, after the successful completion of my master's degree in not too distant future, I hope to establish my own eatery".
Asked whether she was coerced into the trade, Ajibola said: "Sincerely speaking, it is voluntary even though some of us did not like the idea initially. My mother is such a person that allows you to be what you want to be. But she never lags in guiding and counseling us about life".
"For your information, in future, I pray and hope to have an eatery like "Mama Cass" which I will also call "Mama Bonnke. It is a dream which I pray God to bring into fruition".
While advising graduates of polytechnics and universities to be self-reliant, she said: "There are opportunities outside. The only problem is that some of us young ones are dependent on white collar jobs which are not readily available.
"I imagine what would have happened to me if I had begun to look for work in a bank. The chances of my being employed are slim. I appeal to graduates to think of what to do even with a little capital."