Prophet Olowere Cause of Death, Biography, CAC Oke-Agbara pastor

When I stood in front of him to talk with him, I suddenly felt the burden of prayer. Indeed, a man’s secret life is communicable.

Prophet A.T. Joel also shared a story about Babab Olowere’s raw faith. Describing him as a man who was unstoppable, Prophet Joel narrated how Baba Olowere who is also known as Baba Automatic doesn’t take a “NO” for an answer. In his words, Baba Olowere is not a man that would let off Jesus until he hears Him clearly. He is a man that would pray until something happens. I have never met a man as humble as this man of God despite the great exploits God have done through him. There is no single noise around him, easy going but unstoppable.

The contributions of Prophet Michael Olowere significantly expanded Christ Apostolic Church in Ibadanland by establishing new churches, fostering ecumenism and engaging the female gender. Other Church leaders could imbibe this evangelism approach for expansion.

Prophet Michael Olowere is the third son in the family of Chief Dada Olowere and Mrs Alice Olowere of Ifaki-Ekiti, in the present Ido-Osi local government area of Ekiti State, Nigeria. There was no written record in the family, neither was there any registration of his birth at the then Colonial government controlled Province.  According to John Adeyemi Olowere, his birth can be linked to the 1930 revival at Oke-Ooye in Ilesa that his mother had just given birth to baby Michael Olowere, when the news of miracles and healings at Oke-Ooye reached Ifaki. Chief Dada Olowere was the Baba Ijo of Saint Michael Anglican Church, Ona-Oja, IfakiEkiti in Ekiti State.  His maternal grandfather (Borode) was the Patron of the Church Missionary Society in Ifaki-Ekiti at that time. His father and mother were traders: while his mother traded in sugar-cane, his father was a cocoa produce merchant like his predecessor. It is important to mention that Chief Dada Olowere had three wives:  Mrs. Alice Olowere, the mother of Prophet Michael Olowere was the first wife.  She had additional three sons apart from Prophet Michael Olowere. These are Mr. Oke Ogunsakin, Mr. Adebisi Dada and Mr. John Adeyemi Olowere.

Childhood and Educational Training

Prophet Olowere’s father’s death coincided with the time he was to start school, and his uncle who could have sent him to school was not disposed enough to do so.  Therefore, he had no opportunity of formal Education, yet he can read Yoruba Bible and write in Yoruba language107. This suggests that he learnt the alphabets and pronunciation informally. Prophet M.Olowere narrated how he became educated.  He said, ‘God usually ministered to him through His words, and instructed him to read whether in English or Yoruba.’ He said further that, ‘God is so wonderful that whenever he opens the Bible, He ministers to him, and at other times, directs him to particular portions of the Bible’. When Prophet Olowere was twelve years old, his uncle, Mr. Samuel Ogunmoroti, who was a trader, took him to Egbadoland and many other towns and villages where they engaged in merchandising their wares. For the first five years, he and his uncle lived in Idogo, and the following four years at Ilaro all in Egbado area of Yorubaland. The trading journey took him together with his uncle, to many French speaking territories, such as Coutonue in the present Republic of Benin, before returning to Ibadan where he later settled.  Other places where he was engaged in petty trading include Ajilete, Ojaodan and Ebute Igboora.  He was also engaged in menial jobs from time to time for his uncle.  He trained as a bricklayer when he came to Ibadan in 1952.  He worked as a bricklayer for about two years, and he was quite good at it. According to him, he could lay about 100 blocks in one day.  In addition to bricklaying, Prophet M. Olowere learned some other trades. He was an apprentice in blacksmith for about five years and eight months. The name of his master was Mr. Samson who hailed from Ayede Ekiti.109 He was skillful in blacksmithing to the extent that he was able to fabricate different plumbing materials. From the research findings, he could fabricate any type of bolts, nuts, radiators, cocoa scales and any other thing that can be manufactured from steel during that period. As modern technology was not common then, many works were done manually but that notwithstanding, he demonstrated himself as a skillful artisan of his time.   Prophet M. Olowere used his knowledge to benefit all that came in contact with him in area of his specialization.  For instance, he worked with Water Corporation, PZ Company, and Kingsway Stores- all in Ibadan. He was reported by some construction companies as very dutiful to the extent that, he had about fifty four (54) apprentices that learned and worked under his direct supervision. He was also said to be trustworthy, faithful and honest, and these qualities earned him a good name in the presence of all people both great and small as none of his bosses or apprentices under him ever accused him of any wrongdoing.110

Religious Influence on Prophet Michael Olowere

The religious experience of Prophet Michael Olowere from his early life was that of syncretism. According to a reliable source, he was exposed by his father to two religions – Christianity and African Traditional Religion. His father, Chief Dada Olowere did not allow his children to see anything wrong in combining the two in the area of religious practices. He led his children from the church to herbalists’ homes. On the other hand, Prophet Michael Olowere revealed that his parents did not approve of his socialising with other children so that they would not be corrupted.  He also stated that his father did not teach them to know the efficacy of prayer and the word of God for their lives instead; his father exposed them to seeking the assistance of traditional priests for protection from any possible attack from the enemies. While commenting on the religiousity of his parents, Prophet M.Olowere said that, it was amazing, once in a blue moon while coming from the Church, his father would take them to herbalists who made incisions on them with razor blades and robbed the places with some powdery substance after some incantations.  He also reported that, the reason his father was doing that was, according to him, to protect them from witches and wizards that might want to kill them.  He went further to say that, there was no thorough teaching of the Bible at that time and that it was not uncommon for, When I was five years in the profession, I was attending the CAC, Oniyanrin, at the time I received the divine call. I worked in many parts of Oyo State. We repaired scales for cocoa, and generally, worked with as many things that had to do with iron, metal, bolts, and nuts. I was very dedicated to my work and mastered the art, such that my boss at the time praised my skill. We even worked on the iron rods erected at the Oyo Water Corporation at the time. I learnt bricklaying for two years as well. When it was almost eight months that I would have finished my service as it related to learning the ropes of the business, the call into the ministry came again. However, it got to a point that I couldn’t evade the call anymore. So, I went to the CAC church in Kano State, as God directed me. When I got to Kano, the chairman there said I couldn’t be there because, according to him, the work of the gospel was not what I imagined. I also went to Zaria and got the same response.

However, I worked for three and a half years in other CAC churches, before I was brought to UI area, a church around there. With time, I worked in some other places before I became an evangelist, and continued in the ministry, till where God has brought me to today.

I went to theological school for two years. Although, I had been in the ministry long before then, I was ordained a cleric on December 14, 1975. The CAC, Oke Imole, Agbowo was the first church which I planted, through God’s grace in 1978. There are many branches that the CAC Oke-Imole has birthed. I worked under a lot of renowned CAC prophets. Although, I didn’t work with Prophet Ayo Babalola, I knew him. To mention one or two examples, I worked under the tutelage of Prophet Babajide between 1974 and 1975 in Ilesa. I also witnessed Baba Obadare’s resurrection. There have been challenges, but God has been faithful. The challenges have been many, in many regions of Nigeria. It’s one of the reasons I’m thanking God for clocking 60 years in the ministry.

You have been in the ministry for 60 years now. How would you compare Christianity of the time when you embraced the ministry and what obtains now?

Sadly, unlike when we joined the ministry during that time, now, it would seem people want to run faster than God; there is impatience when it comes to waiting for God’s time. And if a person refuses to wait for God’s time, you won’t reach your desired destination, because God will not go faster than you, just to please you. Many people nowadays are very impatient. For 20 years after I came into the ministry, I washed with caustic soda. How many clerics today can take that? Instead, clerics nowadays want to tour around the world in luxury in the shortest time as possible after they come into the ministry. They are anxious to become popular and rich. That is not how it should be. You come into the ministry expecting trials and hardship, especially at the beginning. However, when God wills, He will bless you through that ministry. Being a cleric demands perseverance and endurance. If a cleric is impatient, wanting to be successful, before God’s appointed time, you will miss it and, instead, become labelled a false prophet. I would advise clerics to be truthful to their calling in totality. They should also be humble, whatever the gift God has blessed them with. Even if you have been blessed with the gift of raising the dead, you must be humble. They should follow the dictates of the Bible. They should also learn from the biblical examples of prophets.

You’re in your eighties, yet you don’t seem to be slowing down. You even do dry fasting. What’s the secret?

It has been by the grace of God. My life has been dedicated to spreading the gospel and serving God and He has remained faithful in giving me strength for this race. Even at my age, I fast a lot. Fasting and prayers are part of what God requires of us as clerics, and as Christians. A Christian must learn how not to eat too much, lest he/she opens up the passage for the devil to take hold. Fasting and prayers build discipline, resilience and helps a Christian stand ready at all times. Also, I relax well. When I want to relax, I don’t receive visitors. I sleep, pray, and I also use that time to hear from God.

You are quite older than your wife. How did you express your interest to marry her?

That she would be my wife was through divine revelation. In fact, three times, an angel showed her to me as my wife. Initially, I refused the revelation. Then God told me if I didn’t want what He wanted for me, I should go ahead and do what pleased me. You know when God tells you that, you have no choice but to follow divine leading. I had known her since when she was young and was even friends with her elder brother, who is also a cleric. One day, I invited her to see me. When we met, I didn’t mince words, and asked her if she would be interested in marrying me. She was very shocked. After we parted that day, I told her not to tell her parents. However, when she got home, she told her mother and interestingly, her mother told her it had also been revealed to her that we would get married. Three months later, her brother, who is also a cleric, came to my house on a visit. He said God had repeatedly revealed to him that I would marry his sister.