Prophet T.O. Obadare, Man Who Offered Salvation to Nigeria’s Notorious Armed Robber, Dies in Akure at 83

RENOWNED evangelist and founder of the World Soul Winning Evangelical Ministry, a religious body popularly known by the acronym WOSEM, Pastor Timothy O. Obadare, has transited into eternal glory on Thursday in Akure at the age of 83.

Pastor Obadare, an inspiring walking scriptural encyclopedia, who presided over WOSEM , an autonomous part of the Christ Apostolic Church, operated from his Oyemekun  Road, Akure base.

Obare was supposed to emerge in the hierarchy of succession as the president of the Church, but his disability as a blind man was used to shortchange him but other leaders of the church.

His monthly miracle and revival crusades, known as ‘Kosheunt’ became a hive for drawing faithful from all over West Africa to WOSEM headquarters in Akure.

The prophet’s gift of copiously coping from the bible made it difficult for a lot of people to believe that he was a completely blind man. Obadare was a blazing critic of political and personal corruption and ineptitude. Most of his radio and television preaching, which peaked in the mid-1970s, were always interpreted in several Nigerian languages and in the English language.

Although Mr. Obadare spoke good English, as he was a teacher before the loss of his sight, he often preached in his native Yoruba language.

His ministry turned Akure, the capital city of the south western state of Ondo into a major religious pilgrimage destination for most of his lifetime. The later preacher lived in California for most of the last four years of his life, where he had been receiving professional care for undisclosed health challenges.

One of his most visible works as a prophet was perhaps the miraculous conversion of notorious armed robber, Shina Rambo, from a life of crime to life as a Christian preacher.

In an exclusive interview once granted sharpedgenews.com by the once-deadly armed robber, Shina Rambo said Prophet Obadare is the most influential person in his life. The armed robber-turned-preacher said that Obadare not only concerted him to Christianity, but also took him under his wings and sponsored him to bible school.