WOSEM founder, Obadare, passes on at 86

MR. Timothy Oluwole Obadare, the blind prophet, whom thousands revered because of his reported healing powers, is dead.

Obadare was the General Evangelist of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Worldwide and founder of the World Soul Winning Evangelical Ministry (WOSEM) headquartered in Akure, Ondo State.

He was confirmed dead Thursday by his youngest son, Pastor Joseph Obadare. He died at the age of 86.

Obadare  passed  on yesterday at his number 16, Adinlewa Street, Akure residence, close to the expansive WOSEM headquarters, where members of the congregation began gathering as the news of his passage filtered into town.

Although none of the church workers was able to confirm the veracity of the news of the death of the prophet, who hailed from Ilesa, Osun State, preferring to wait for an official announcement to be made by the family through the first son, Pastor Paul Obadare , who is said to be overseas, many wore long faces and discussed the development in hushed tones.

But when The Guardian made another visit to the residence of "Baba" as the prophet was called by many, the younger Pastor Obadare, who had earlier insisted on waiting for the family announcement, confirmed the news which was already being spread by the social media.

According to him, "Baba, because of old age, had been confined to this house for some time and today he peacefully moved up to the higher realm of existence. Prophet T.O Obadare is dead."

As journalists who had been waiting for confirmation got it, the news rapidly spread across town and many sympathisers, mainly women who had gathered to fetch water from the "Kosehunti well", believed to have miraculous healing properties, trooped to the residence, some rejoicing that “Baba” lived a fulfilled life while others expressed shock at the development.

Those who expressed shock said they had thought that the prophet, who after about three years had not attended the monthly “Kosehunti” prayer meetings, made a surprise appearance last February 1.

His appearance, albeit for only about one hour in a full-day programme, threw the entire auditorium, which is always filled to capacity, into wild ecstasy.

The prophet's personal driver since 1988, Pastor Gbenga Obatuyise, who spoke to The Guardian at the residence, said : "Baba was father to thousands of children and I am happy to be one of them. He turned my life around and through him I found a new life in Christ."

A member of the congregation of CAC Oke-Itura which Prophet Obadare attended anytime he was at home in Akure, Michael Dawodu, who initially doubted the prophet's death asked several times "are you sure that you heard the news correctly?

"Baba had been rumoured to have died more than three times and at the end of each, he was found to be alive. So please be sure so that you don’t report falsehood about a man of God."

When he was told that the family had confirmed the death, Dawodu said: "May Baba's soul rest in perfect peace. He was a remarkable man of God."

Reactions also started to pour in shortly after news of   Obadare’s death broke. Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko said yesterday that the death of Obadare was an example of the marching on of a saint.