‘There is trouble when a shoplifter becomes leader’

Speaking with Sunday Sermon in Abuja last week, Olupitan said: “Last year, I was in Israel and I was talking to some Nigerians. They were shouting from the airport that Nigeria’s problem is bad leadership. But I told them that Nigeria’s problem is not bad leadership. Nigeria’s problems stem from followership. Remember that no leader […]

Speaking with Sunday Sermon in Abuja last week, Olupitan said: “Last year, I was in Israel and I was talking to some Nigerians. They were shouting from the airport that Nigeria’s problem is bad leadership. But I told them that Nigeria’s problem is not bad leadership. Nigeria’s problems stem from followership. Remember that no leader came from heaven. They [leaders] were all one time followers. Is it the president that will tell a Nigerian to shunt queues? Is it the president that tells Nigerians to do things contrary to the law? The policeman that takes bribe on the highway is a follower. The customs officer that takes bribe at the border is a follower.

“When you go round, you see the evil followers commit—it is far more than what leaders do. These so-called leaders were once followers. Maybe they were bad followers and so they are bad leaders today. Leaders are product of followers. If they had truly followed well, they will lead well!

“A follower will go to the shop, pick items they did not pay for, hide them and run out of the shop. The president is not there, the lawmakers are not there. But that person who had never led themselves well will tomorrow become a local council chairman. Subsequently they become Representative, a senator or a governor and maybe a president!

“That person who was a shoplifter will become president and will end up looting the treasury of the state. Because they were bad followers, when they become leaders, they cannot lead well,” Olupitan explained philosophically.

He said the Lord had done much in the Shepherd’s Flock Christian Church.

“The lord has moulded the congregation. We can see the hand of God lifting them from one level of glory to another. We had people who came as singles, today they are married. Those who came without the fruit of the womb today have children,” he recounted.

The ministry which vision was taken from Proverbs 18:10 is six years old. It now holds its fellowship in the conference hall of the Nigeria Union of Journalists Centre Utako-Abuja having left its former place in Jabi last year.