Oba Tejuoso Adedapo Adewale CON Testifies!

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,

I bring you the testimony of an elderly statesman I have long admired, I went to school with some of his children and whenever he visited Bowen University those days, you could tell that a king was in town. He has always been regal and grand. he combines the wisdom of Solomon with a heart after God like David.   Meeting him close and personal was a dream come true, meeting him is totally unforgettable to me, I promise to share when the time is right.

He recently clocked 75, and at his age, Oba Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso CON has seen it all, he has succeeded in everything he has ever set out to do in life, as a matter of fact his Insignia of office reads,' He touches nothing that he does not adorn'. He has been a successful medical doctor turned industrialist and now a king, He is the Karunwi III, Oranmiyan, Osile Oke-Ona Egba of Abeokuta, Ogun State. He is descended from a long line of nobility, he is the only son to the late Iyalode Tejuoso, the first woman industrialist in Nigeria whom the famous Tejuoso market in Lagos is named after. 

As a christian monarch, he has eradicated idol worship in all the regions he presides over, he is also the Chairman, Governing Council of the Prison Rehabilitation Mission International (PREMI), we will share that testimony very soon. In this article which he presented at the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship, he advised and encouraged kings to eradicate idol worship and serve the only Living God. Excerpts...

Bringing the Royal Fathers and their Kingdoms out of Darkness into Light

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Gen 1:1-2. And God said,” Let there be light” and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; the creation of the Garden of Eden, in Gen 1;3-31 was to showcase a perfect example of God’s kingdom. In Gen 1;26, God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let then have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over the cattle and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” In Gen 1; 27, “God created man in His own image in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.” In Gen 1; 28 “God blessed them and God said unto them, “Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it”. In Gen 1; 31, “God saw everything He had made and behold it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day”. Six therefore became the number of man.

Man then became desperately wicked and was full of iniquities. As a result, the flood came and God destroyed the whole of the then sinful world. Only one person named Noah with his family of eight; his wife, three sons and their wives survived. 

The character of Noah, as described in Gen. 6; 8-9 should therefore be the pattern of the life or character of any king or leader worth its salt on earth today. Our history, culture, tradition and religion should start and end with Noah, the forefather of (our new or modern) world.

Please note that religion is completely different from and must always be kept separate from culture and tradition to avoid confusion. Idol worship (traditional religion) is not and should not be confused with our culture and tradition.  They are different.

Noah begat Shem, Ham and Japheth.  Nimrod (Lamurudu), the great hunter was the great grandson of Noah. (Gen. 10; 8-9). Oduduwa (our forefather in Yorubaland) was a descendant of Noah through Ham and Nimrod (Lamurudu).

I submit therefore, that in Yoruba land, our culture and tradition as well as our religion must always take root right from the new and original source (after the flood) from Noah.  He never practiced idol worshiping. He was described by the bible in Gen 6; 8-9 thus;

“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. These are the generations of Noah; Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations and Noah walked with God.”

You must therefore aspire to become like Noah, an Omoluwabi which means “Omo ti Noah bi” – Noah’s child.

Remember God also said to Abraham, “Walk before me and be perfect” (Gen. 17:1). These should be some of the attributes or the character of any man, leader or king who wants to attain the Kingdom of God.  We need to prepare kings and their kingdoms for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We must set in motion, a divine process that would end idolatry and restore the lost glory of the monarchy.  We must establish Godly kingdoms and Godly kings throughout the black continent of Africa.  These kings must be prepared to “Seek the kingdom of God first and His righteousness.” We need kings who are set apart and are transformed by the renewing of their minds and spirit. Romans 12; 1-2;

  “I beseech you therefore , brethren by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

“And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

The light of the Gospel is the only redeeming grace for the throne and those who seat on them. If our forefathers have laid the foundations of error in their days (in their own limited worldly wisdom), we should have the power today to correct it in our generation of grace if we are courageous and tenacious.  All we need is God’s wisdom (which is Jesus Christ) and not the wisdom of the world.

1 Corinthians 2; 5-8

“That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory.”

“Which none of the princes of this world knew; for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory”.

Idol Worship

We Obas need to be diligent in all we do because God chose us. We need to trust Him with all our hearts and with all our belongings. We must not compromise our faith with whosoever and whatsoever.  Isaiah 45; 9 says, “Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker!” Oranmiyan, the last born grandson of Oduduwa, was the first king who reigned in the original homestead of the old Orile Oko, Oke-Ona Egba. It is the ancestral town of Ago-Oko in Oke-Ona Egba, here in Abeokuta.  Oranmiyan’s firstborn was Ajaka and the second born was Sango. As the present occupant of that ancient stool and therefore the Oranmiyan himself, I cannot now start worshipping or idolizing my own son, Sango. God forbid! It would be an abomination.

 The fear of God is surely the beginning of wisdom. Take heed my fellow Obas, my prayer is that God should forgive all of us and grant us salvation and peace.

We should all accept Jesus Christ into our lives today. Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Please give Him your soul. We must always put our living God first in everything that we do.

You must have read in the newspapers some time ago when God did put it in my heart to go and remove the Obatala idol in my family compound in Ago-Oko, Oke-Ona Egba, Abeokuta (this idol had been there for hundreds of years) and I did so on my 67^th birthday, the 19^th of February 2005. Of course, so many idol worshippers were against what I did. Hell was let loose and they challenged me to a public duel. They said I should bring everything I thought I had and they would bring their Irumole (Idols and charms) so we can then contest publicly. Little did they know that they were challenging God to a battle and not me. Who can defeat God? None!

Soon after this incident happened, precisely on Thursday the 3^rd of August 2006, one of us, an Oba, the late Oba Onadeko, the then Odemo of Ishara wrote an article on page 2 of the National Mirror Newspapers against me asking why I was doing all what I did removing idols from the shrine. Did I not go through all these rituals when I was at ‘Ipebi’ myself? He asked.  He said even the King or Queen of England also always had to go through all these rituals at ‘Ipebi’. Then he said who was I to ever say I was removing the idols from our family house? He said further that I was not fit to be a king simply because I was doing God’s bidding. That I should go and find something else to do.

I saw the newspaper and I simply laughed. I think that was ten days to my Olori Yetunde Tejuoso’s 50^th birthday anniversary celebration on the 13^th of August 2006.  The Odemo of Ishara- Oba Onadeko was also present with us at that thanksgiving church service at the African Church, Idi-Ape, Abeokuta. We sat on the same front pew in the church; the pulpit was directly in front of him.  Our then Provost, Ven. Akin Falana who was preaching the sermon did not even know the man who wrote the article. He said all manner of things (divinely motivated) against the Oba who wrote the article in the newspaper. He did not know that the culprit was there seated right in front of him. After the service, I did not even bother to discuss the issue with him at all because I knew God was fully in charge.  It is indeed a great pity that the Oba joined his ancestors on the 4^th of July, 2007. This was less than one year after he wrote that article which appeared to be challenging God Himself to a battle. That was less than one year after he said I was not fit to be a king just because I was serving my living God.   God chose me and I am confident nobody can remove me unless God Himself ordains it and I am sure He would not as long as I continue to serve Him faithfully and always do His will only. You can also do likewise is my advice to you.

My prayer is that people would stop chasing shadows. Only the living God can save or redeem us from our sins. The blood of Jesus availeth much. It is only in Christ that we can live forever in God’s kingdom. Give your life to Him today. Tomorrow may be too late. God bless you as you surrender all to Him now.

The Essential Attributes needed for Christian Kings to Resolve or to Overcome the challenges of birthing Godly Kingdoms

•  Our Traditional Rulers must cast out all fears from their lives. Fear is the devil’s instrument. God does not give us the spirit of fear. They must ensure that God rebuilds them and takes them over and above what their tradition and culture and the kingmakers made them during their period of ‘Ipebi’. They must learn to only fear God who can kill both the body and soul. The devil can only kill the body and not the soul. Accept Jesus Christ into your life.
•  The Bible is made up of seven different dispensations, each of which ends with judgment. Most of our traditions and culture are not operating under the Christ era dispensation of grace which is our 6^th and present dispensation.  Most things we do now had once been acceptable to God in the days of the Old Testament. They are no longer acceptable to God since He has already been magnanimous enough to give us His only son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, through whom alone we can be saved and get to God’s kingdom. He is The Truth, The Way and The Life.

•   It is only through Christ that we can give birth to Godly Kingdoms. Not through church doctrine, constitution or set ups. Church is important but it must be one that upholds the Word, the teachings and the life of Christ. Not one that respects human ideologies, traditions and culture of our worldly founding fathers which oppose the standards of our God, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Jesus  Christ came during the 5^th dispensation which is the dispensation of the law. He came to fulfill the law and not to abrogate them. he had since fulfilled all the laws and we are therefore no longer under the law but its fulfillment by our Lord Jesus Christ. We are now in the 6^th dispensation which is the dispensation of grace. It is this grace that will eventually lead some of us to the 7^th and final dispensation known as the millennium reign of our Lord Jesus Christ. By the grace of God, I shall be there in Jesus name (Amen). Will you want to be there too? Then accept Jesus Christ into your life today, tomorrow may be too late.

• Our Traditional Rulers must not only be the hearers of the Word but more importantly doers of the Word of God and all its guiding principles.

The Grace of God

To achieve all these attributes, one needs the grace of God. You can only get that grace of God by giving your life to Christ. God has been so gracious to you by allowing you to become a king. A position you probably never hoped for in life. You know that John 3; 27 says, “A man can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven”.

You have received this grace and special favor and mercy from God who is your Creator. Is it then right for you to now abandon your Creator and start worshiping the creation? Isaiah 45; 9 says, “Woe unto him that striveth with his maker!”

 This is exactly what you are doing when you are worshiping idols or anything you place higher or over and above God in your heart.

Is there not a cause for you to be chosen as king?

1 Samuel 17; 29 says, “And David said, what have I now done? Is there not a cause?”  Is there not a cause why God chose you to be a king instead of the millions of people equally qualified or more qualified than you? 

Pastor E.A Adeboye once asked, how did David realise the promised kingship? It was because he had an overflowing anointing (Ps 23; 5). To have this, you must love righteousness and hate iniquity (Heb. 1; 9). Holiness is an overflowing anointing. How come Joseph, the last but one child of Jacob and David the last born of Jesse were chosen from their families? This shows the role of grace in fulfilling destiny. Bible scholars even believe that David was not welcome in the family of Jesse because his mother was not married to his father, yet God preferred him to his brothers. God does as He pleases and nobody can query Him. We are saved by grace (Eph 2; 8). God has chosen you not because you are the most qualified for that position but because of grace. 

Pastor E.A Adeboye said he once asked God, “How can you write in your word that you love Solomon; a product of a mischievous adulterer and an adulteress? His father was even a murderer. How can you love the product of such an illicit relationship? Then the Lord asked me, he said further, “Son was your mother the first wife of your father?” I knew where that question was leading to; said Pastor Adeboye and so, I immediately replied, “No more questions, Lord”.

Some of you are already asking God questions in your mind right now. You are asking God why He is using a polygamist like Oba Tejuoso. You already know by now that it is only the grace of God that is at work for me. Pray for God’s grace on you too. Even Paul said he was what he was by grace. You are not a pastor, minister, leader or even a king because you merited it. It is because God decided to extend His grace to you.  If you do not handle grace delicately, it can be abused. (Rom 6; 1-2) or frustrated (Gal 2; 21). There is always a last assignment for everyone. Don’t take God’s grace for granted. Justify that high calling of God upon your life. Let heaven rejoice for choosing you and not somebody else. The grace of God is available for everyone if only one will take advantage of the death of God’s only begotten son; Jesus Christ our Lord, Master and Savior on the cross at Calvary. It will certainly lead one to one’s appointed destiny.

Without holiness, no one can see God.  Obedience is better than sacrifice. Be prepared for the rapture. Hell is real but heaven is sure for those who really embrace and earnestly seek Him. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the church. Heaven is sure for those who embrace the grace of God. We must not miss the marriage supper of the Lamb at eternity.