The world woke up on Sunday to the news of the death of popular televangelist, Temitope Balogun Joshua, with surprises and shock.
Not many had expected the death of a man, who, in the years of his ministry, had touched many lives especially through the rehabilitation of economically impoverished and sick people across the globe.
The deceased Founder of The Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet Temitope Balogun, also known as T.B. Joshua had built an empire in the Ikotun area of Lagos and exposed the suburb, which was relatively unknown into a pilgrimage area, as people trooped in from various parts of the world for physical, economical and spiritual touch from the man behind the gigantic edifice at Egbe, Ikotun Lagos.
So many residents of the neighbourhood while reacting to the news of the death of TB Joshua had thronged to the expansive auditorium on Sunday to mourn their departed neighbour and benefactor.
Kaftan Post visited the Ikotun Egbe neighbourhood to seek the views of the residents on the impact of TB Joshua on their area. Many testified that they got their livelihoods back after encountering the prophet.
Kesee is a 43-year-old bus driver from West Legon in Ghana, who said he relocated to Nigeria in 2010 after losing his properties in a fire incident and was on the verge of embracing crime until he met TB Joshua.
“There was a fire incidence in my area in Ghana while I was away. Before I returned I had lost all my properties. A friend who shuttled between Ghana and Nigeria advised me to leave Ghana to Nigeria.
“I immediately took my few clothes and followed him into Nigeria and landed on the streets of Ikotun.
“For over three years, I slept with drug addicts, pick pockets and touts until one Sunday I heard Synagogue was sharing old clothes, money, and food items.
“I was lucky to have gotten a lot of things after a brother said he genuinely got convinced my story was true.
“That started a new phase for me as one of the members employed me as a driver.
“To cut the story short, I drove the man for about five years and he settled me with a bus to start transport business. I am indeed grateful to have been touched by his kindness,” Kesse added.
Traversing through the Cele bustop into the heart of Egbe, the reporter sighted food seller by the roadside. She gave her name as Esosa and hails from Auchi in Edo State. She shared her view when asked on what TB Joshua meant to their community.
Esosa said: “I am a widow with two kids who are currently in primary school. I was staying at Ijegun before relocating to Ikotun. My aim was to sell food to the members who trooped out in thousands from the church almost daily.
“I started up and today I can pay bills without asking for help from anywhere or anyone. The presence of this man in this area has actually increased the population of people here. We all mourn him especially me (as she showed a sticker of the preacher on one of her plastic buckets with cooked beans).
Another respondent said every festive season TB Joshua shared food items and money to residents of the area and he was a regular beneficiary.
“I can’t remember the Christmas I have spent without getting rice from TB Joshua. He distributed rice to every street and money not just in Ikotun but in Agodo.
“He fed people in thousands here and I can bet you (hitting his chest in confidence) that 35 percent of people here have survived because of the huge support from this man.”
Reports revealed that several businesses in the Synagogue neighbourhood had over the years experienced brisk sales. Such businesses include hotels, transportation, groceries, food vendors and more, who have exploited the opportunities of the presence of the church to their benefit.
Kaftan Post findings revealed that SCOAN attracts over three million local pilgrims aside the foreigners who frequent the church from across Europe, Asia, and America.
Plans were underway by various stakeholders in tourism towards boosting the profile of the church as a religious tourism site which would add value to the country’s revenue from the non-oil sector.
This was aptly represented in several tributes by tourism and travel experts who had close contacts with the preacher.
Justina Okpanku, a pioneer award-wining travel journalist, took to her Facebook page to say that TB Joshua’s exit was a minus to the industry.
“Oh God’ TB Joshua dead!!! Nigeria Tourism will miss this religious Tourism/pilgrimage icon. Alot of us may have benefited in one way or the other, directly or indirectly from TB Joshua’s Ministry/Emmanuel TV.”
She spoke on the reputation of the preacher while attending the United Nations World Tourism event in Seoul Korea in 2005.
“South Koreans showered us with love once they realized we were TB Joshua’s people at Seoul in May, 2005.
“We (Nigerian delegation) participated at UNTWO Step Foundation. The many outdoor billboards on the streets of Seoul had Prophet TB Joshua’s photos at the time and he is from Nigeria. No doubt, he added value to Nigeria. May his soul rest in peace,” Okpanku concluded.
Another Tourism expert and consultant, Okorie Uguru, who is also a resident of the neighbourhood and had close ties with the departed preacher, posted on his Facebook wall.
“Man of God, when the NIHOTOUR team and I met you last month, this was not what you told me. There was something you said you will do on June 12th, your birthday, but we give glory to God for your life,” Uguru concluded.
While exiting the Ikotun Egbe vicinity, KAFTAN Post observed that the long queues of vehicles that usually transport members from the church had gradually disappeared as the church was under lock and key. So many small shops and retail outlets that smiled to the banks after Sunday or miracle services, hotels and guest houses that went sold out by pilgrims visits may start counting losses as time unfolds. This is due to the exit of the man who wasn’t only revered as a preacher or prophet, but left traces of impact on the businesses of thousands and touched many lives.
