In the 1930’s a man called Daniel Orekoya (Prophet) was greatly used by God. People of Christ Apostolic Church background will know this history well enough.
He was the healing Prophet who sparked the healing revival of Oke-Bola, Ibadan. While people are conversant with Prophet Babajide and Apostle Ayo Babalola, the story we were not told was that he (Apostle Ayo Babalola) had an assistant, Daniel Orekoya, an Ijebu man who left Ijebu to Ilesa according to God’s plan for his life then later to Oke-Bola, Ìbàdàn, present day Oyo State.
He ministered alongside Apostle Ayo Babalola. Apostle Ayo Babalola is said to have prayed to God for more Prophets and it seemed that Daniel Orekoya was the answer to that prayer.
It was said that Apostle Ayo Babalola made this statement:
“If God gave him (Babalola) a jar of anointing oil, God gave Orekoya a keg of anointing oil.” We can safely infer that Apostle Ayo Babalola was saying, Prophet Daniel Orekoya had a greater and unusual anointing over his life.
This Prophet came to Ìbàdàn and sparked a revival that lasted for about three years. He is said to have raised 22 people from the dead.
Like Apostle Peter, he healed the sick using his shadow. Men and women into occult practices and dark arts (witches and wizards) were said to surrender or leave Oke-Bola for another city during his stay in Ibadan.
It was recorded of him that he hardly spoke in tongues because whenever he did, there was either lightening or thunder sparks.
Despite his physical disabilities, which includes his shortness like that of a 12 year old boy and inability to read, he was used mightly by God to aid the cause of Apostolic Christianity in Africa.
If being learned was the only criteria to be used by God, Daniel Orekoya would not be worthy as he was not even educated. Truly, God showed himself as one who uses the foolish things of this world to confound the seemingly wise.
It is pertinent to note that he was able to do in one year of effective work of ministry what most ministers of God have done in a lifetime.
According to sources, he raised a pregnant woman, Madam Alice Abeo who had passed on for about four days from the dead and both baby and mother lived on. Mind-bending miracles and naturally impossible phenomenons were wrought by God through him but why is his story unpopular?
He was despised because of his physical disabilities. According to sources, a particular Church refused to support him because he was unable to read the Bible well.
Prophet Orekoya was also not in agreement with some of the practices of the then Church which made him disobey Church authorities.
Unfortunately, he got no support from his very own family as well. He was rejected by the Church and hated by several ministers in the fold until his death.
At his death which was reportedly caused by a fire outbreak, he made some confessions about his pride, arrogance and disobedience to the Church authority.
It was until this great man died that the Church began to appreciate the works God wrought through him. In fact, Ìbàdàn is the present location of the missionary headquarters of the Christ Apostolic Church worldwide. Every first Sunday in the month of September is dedicated to celebrate what God did through him in Ibadan, Benin Republic and in other areas.
Written by Peter Oyetunde,
Head Historian, KM.
