MOST REVEREND MARGARET IDAHOSA
When I took over at my husband's death, I never felt intimidated because of my gender
Time is 11:23 a.m. The wide-panelled door opens and she steps into the conference room located on the first floor of the corporate office of the Church of God Mission International Incorporated on Adesuwa Road, Benin City. There, it is a well-known fact that 'Mama', as Archbishop Margaret Ekhoe Benson-Idahosa is fondly called, does not come to the office on Mondays. But here she is. Her mission? To honour a scheduled appointment with select journalists who had come for a session with her ahead of her 70th birthday. For a lady barely a few days away from the biblical seven scores and ten years, she looks rather young. Indeed, in her blue tops, she looks gorgeous and beautiful. You wouldn't doubt it if you we were told she just dipped into a river of grace and panache. And her smiles further push her beauty to the fore.
Born to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Izevbigie on July 29, 1943, the widow of Archbishop Benson Idahosa, the late flambouyant founder of Church of God Mission International Incorporated, hails from a royal lineage in Benin Kingdom. She was ordained into the ministry on May 24, 1983, and consecrated Bishop on April 24, 1998. She won the ultimate crown about 11 years later with her consecration as Archbishop. That was in November 2009. And with that, she goes down in history as the first female Pentecostal Archbishop in Africa.
In this interview, the Chancellor of Benson Idahosa University speaks on life at 70, her ministry, while she has refused to remarry since 1998 when she lost her husband and other issues.
What have been your testimonies at 70?
I sit here not by my power, not by my might, but by the power of the Almighty God. I owe it all to Him because if I remember some of those that we were born at the same time, the same year or in the same area, some of them are no longer here. It is not because I am too good, too holy or too righteous but I think it is because of the grace of God. And for that, I say thank you unto God.
What has been my experience since I mounted the saddle of leadership of the CGM? I would say that it has not been all that easy. But I have God on my side and because I have God on my side, He has a wide shoulder for me to cry on, to lean on when I have any problem. He has always been there for me and by the grace of God, on July 29, I will be 70; and I don't feel the difference. I don't feel the difference from the inside of me and the outside or on the strength that God has given on to me.
It is a fact that I am not as strong as I used to be when I was 20 or 30, but I have this to say, that I am still strong and I give all the glory to God. I see some of my mates that have lost their husbands, they have become shadows of themselves. But I tell them, losing a husband or losing a wife is not the end of life. There is more to life than what you are experiencing on the inside. It depends on how you react to certain things that happen to you that make people to look at you the way you look.
But I have to say this: since my husband left, it's a fact that there are some days I don't feel like getting out of bed because I miss him. But when I look at the work that God has given unto us, I get up, I brace up myself and I do what God has asked me to do.
It has not been a bed of roses but majority of work is going on very well. And for those women that are out there, I have this to say: God is not a respecter of persons. What God has done for one, He can do for the other. What God has done for the man, He can do for the woman as well. The major thing in it is availability.
So, I say to them, avail yourselves to that which you are inclined to or to that which you do best or that which is your strength. Avail yourself to it, invest in it and be focused. Don't be intimidated because you are a woman. That was how I felt when the Archbishop left. When I was put into this position, I had no one to ask but God. I said: 'God, you know I live in a man's world and for a woman to become a Bishop I have never heard of it. And how do you want me to function when you know I live in a man's world? For about two weeks, I didn't hear anything from God. I kept on asking and crying not knowing that God is not moved by my tears or me. God is moved by faith. The moment I braced up myself and said, 'God, now I realize and I know that no need moves you. My heart is fixed in you. You put me in this position, now I want to do your will. And God said to me: 'I gave you the appointment, I will release the ability to perform'. I said, 'Okay God, that's good. I like that.' Since then, He's been doing that.
So, let them (women) be focused. Let them know that they are not the first to lose their husbands. We lost husbands yesterday, some are going (to lose husbands) today; and some will still go tomorrow but life goes on. And somebody who knows who his or her God is, knows full well that the husband is not behind or the wife behind him but they are in the future. So, be focused on your strength and that which God has earmarked for you to do for yourself, the family and the community at large.
Ok, let's count our blessings one by one. What are the memorable ones you can remember at 70?
They are so much. Number one, that I am still alive, I am excited. I am elated and I give all the glory to my God. That I am alive, that I still have the breath of God in my nostrils, I still can wake up early in the morning, go to the bathroom, take a shower or take a bath and come in, dress myself and go about my daily job is something to be grateful to God for. So, I am grateful on to God.
There are so many other reasons to be grateful to God. They are many, but let me just say a few of them. Number two, the children that God has given me have been a huge blessing. They seek for my comfort. I don't kneel down to pray for them and say, 'Father, look at them out there. See what I am doing, please, help me. Please bring them back to me to come and be a part of what I am doing.'
No, God never allowed that. That's miracle. Every one of them has cut out a niche for himself in the ministry, which is of great honour, and pride to our God and to this ministry. You know, I have seen some pastors, they come here to ask for prayers, 'Please, pray for my son. Please, pray for my daughter. Pray for this, pray for that.' But I want to thank God that God came to them or they all went to God by themselves. It is not because their father was a pastor or an archbishop, and now their mother. No, no, no. They found God by themselves. They entered into the things that God is doing and God spoke to them individually on what to do; and they are doing it. And I am grateful to God and God is helping us in the family.
Challenges
I will say the challenge that I am facing is myself. It is myself. God speaks and I sit down to begin to ask questions, to challenge God to say God: 'What is my part? Why should I do that?' But the moment I say, 'okay God, I hands up, let me do it', God has always been helping me.
The only challenge I have is me, myself; how to obey God and how to do the things that God has asked me to do. For the people, once I stand to say, 'this is what God has said,' and I explain to them, write it down, make it plain, they believe it. But the challenge I have is just me. That is the challenge I have. But I am still praying that 'God, when you speak, let me hear and do what you have said.'
What is that particular thing that you will never forget in your life now that you are 70?
I will never forget the day my husband left (died). That is the thing because we went on a crusade outside the country. Before we left, I told him, 'Honey, I am not going to stay behind, I am coming home with you. We are going together and we are coming together.' He said, 'no problem, everything is fine'. By the time we finished, we had not seen the children since the beginning of the year and their fees and all that had not been paid. So, he said, 'Okay, honey, this is for this, this is for that. I want you to go, spend two or three days with them, make sure their bills are settled and then you can come.' You know children, they do something in the heart of a woman. When you talk about their children, a woman can go the extra mile.
So, I said, 'Okay honey, I had said I won't stay behind, that I will go with you. But because of the children, let me just go.' Two days after he left me, I was called that he was gone. I will never ever forget that. It was as if the cap of my life, the roof over my head was taken away. So, that is very significant to me. I will never forget it.
What is the next stage of the vision?
The next stage of the vision is that I am waiting on God. Whatever God tells me to do I will do. I know that God will not speak to me the things that I cannot do because He is God, He knows my ability, He knows my inability, He knows what I can do and what I cannot do. So, whenever He speaks, I am ready, I am prepared. I have told myself that I am available to God, wherever He sends me, wherever He leads I will go. I am strong and I am ready.
What have been the challenges of running the Ministry and a university?
Running a university is not an easy thing. You know that when my husband left, the university was not fully accredited by the Federal Government. So, we had to work on it, work on our programmes, work on the different things that NUC (National University Commission) was asking for and we did all. In 2002, it was approved by the Federal Government. And we all know that running a university is not an easy thing, even for a state. It is not easy for a state to run a university but we want to thank God that the foundation of our university is based on God and when God gives a vision He makes the provision; and God has been helping us from one thing to the other since the beginning of the university.
There is a general belief that churches establish schools to make money. How would you react to this and what informed the establishment of Word of Faith Group of Schools?
Word of Faith Group of Schools is owned by us. Yes, that is very true. It is a fact that the money is coming now. Before now, we were putting in money- money to build the school, money to equip the school, money to pay teachers, money to decorate the school. Maybe now money is coming from it but the initial reason or objective was not to make money. The initial reason for opening the school is to train children from cradle.
We have a crèche, we have toddler, we have the primary, we have a secondary just to create awareness. And if you look at Benin before this ministry came into existence, maybe some of you were not even born, you will agree with me that Benin was not like this. In those days, if a native doctor told you at 2 O' Clock you will be dead you better go and get ready because you will be dead. But when the real gospel came and we were letting men and women know that God is not a killer, He just want you to give your heart to Him, to worship Him, and He will protect you and your children, we have seen a lot of changes. And so, I look at these children that are there, 20 years from now, they should be able to contribute their quota to the development of Benin City. So, that was what was in my mind, when Word of Faith Group of schools was established. But for the reason that schools are here and there today, thanks be onto God. The situation would have been worse if it were shrines. It is still better to have schools than to have shrines, Sango Shrines, Ogun shrines or Orumila shrines. But whatever it takes, it is to develop the society because you know when a child is developed mentally, he can become anything in life. Instead of letting them go out of the way of God, let them know who God is. And our school is Christian-based because with God they can become anything in life. This is why Word of Faith Group of Schools was established. To say that it makes money, maybe now it is making money, I don't know, but whatever comes from there is invested back into the ministry.
How are you able to balance your many roles, particularly as a minister and mother?
I would say that I am able to function because I work with a team of men and women that know the vision that God has given us. As you know, we have a church, we have schools, we have a university, we have a bible school, we have hospitals, we have International Leadership Institute. Let me start with the church. The church has different bishops. We have a bishop in charge of finance. So, I don't have to crack my brain because he is trained to handle whatever concerns money, finance, banking, budget, expenditure. I just call him: 'My dear, this is your area of specialty.' And he does it very well.
Likewise the Bishop in charge of administration who directs the affairs of the churches. We have different bishoprics. Every Bishop directs the affairs of their bishopric. So, as far as that is concerned, I don't have much to do than maybe, once every two or three months, we all come together to meet minds on the strength, weakness and how to improve and go to the next stage.
I believe strongly in teamwork. Everything that we have become is through teamwork. We are all team players. No one is paralyzing his/her side.
Then as a mother?
I have an office, and I am there everyday when I am in town, and I do my job. Sometime, I spend some extra hours to do my job. But I when get home, I am home. But for this interview, I am not supposed to be in the office today (Monday is her work-free day).
I have a grandchild; she's three months old. That is actually the seventh grandchild I am having. I saw her just briefly yesterday (Sunday) after service, so the mother just ran from upstairs as I was stepping out of the house this morning, saying, 'Grandma, we have come to spend sometime with you and you are going out?' I said to her, I know I am not supposed to go to work today, but there are media men that I have given appointment and are waiting for me. I told her that I would be back home as soon as I finished with the interview. And as soon as I am through with you, I am going to run home, carry my grandchild, put her on my back and dance round without music and all that. So, this is it: when I am home, I am a mother, I am a grandmother. I don't allow the work of the ministry to weigh me down. I have men and women around me who do the worries for me.
What would you expect as a birthday gift at 70?
Last month, we had a council meeting made up of over 300. Before then, we had bishops and coordinators meeting. I overheard them making some plans behind my back. They said, 'Mama, we just want you to give us sometime.' I told them, listen, I would be 70, I don't need any husband. I had one and I enjoyed him. I don't need children, biologically. God gave me children; seven children. I don't need a house. I live in a palace. To maintain that house a month is over N50, 000. (Buying electric bulbs and so on). To maintain that house costs me so much. I don't want another house. Left to me, if they would agree with me, I would rather have a small house: a three bedroom, and one room for visitors. That is good enough for me.
But one thing I want all of you to do for me is to help me move Benson Idahosa University from the temporary site to the permanent site. That is what I want. They all were looking at me. I said to them, I don't need clothes, I don't need jewelries. There are some clothes that are still hanging in the wardrobe with the tags, that I have not worn. People just bring things to me. I told my people that the thing I want mostly is to be able to move the university from the temporary site to the university village. So, that is what I want.
What is your take on the notion that women are to be seen, not heard. And what are the things that really equipped you for the job you are doing. What is the secret of your success as a female archbishop?
The notion that women are to be seen, not heard is an old adage now. We are letting women know that you must be seen, and you must be heard. I am not advocating for women to usurp authorities from the men because God has made the men the head of the home. And if the head of the home is acting as the head, in provision, in caring, in educating and in doing all that God wants the men to do, there's no reason for the woman to usurp authorities. But that which God has embedded in you as a woman is important. God put it there for your home to enjoy, and then for others around you in the community to enjoy as well. So, don't die inside with the gift and the talent that God has given unto you. Do your bit in the home, make sure your husband eats, make sure you do whatever your husband loves you doing, but do not die with the gifts and talents that God has given to you.
Miles Monroe says that there's a place on this planet earth that is very rich; and that place is the cemetery. It is rich in talents and gifts that are buried, songs that were never sung. I tell everyone to make sure they do whatever God has earmarked for them to do for their families and their generation at large.
To answer the second part of the question, the secret of my success is God, the Holy Spirit. I rely on him everyday. The first thing I do everyday is to knee down by my bed and just sing some love songs to Him, and he rejuvenates me, He encourages me. And that is what I tell people. It is not that I don't have problems, but I don't allow the problems to have me. I dominate the problems. And with the Holy Spirit in me, I am able to surmount the problems.
So, for the women out there, don't let problems have you. You must dominate the problems with the Holy Spirit. You may not have the Holy Spirit, but make sure you relate to God. Let God know. Take you daily reading from him. Then, you would see that God Himself would begin to do the things that you desire.
You have been widowed for a decade and a half, since 1998. Why have you not considered remarrying? Is it that there have been no suitors or what?
My husband left me when I was 55, and today, I am 70, by the Grace of God. The interest of remarrying just died in me. It just died with him.
I feel that I had one; I had enjoyed him. I mean, I cooked, washed, cleaned. I just felt this is the time for me to rest, and really focus on what God wants me to do. So, I don't have any interest. And I have asked God in me never to resurrect it. Since my husband left, I have never looked at a man and lust after him. All I need to do is just do the work that God has handed over to us. Not only to me, but also to all that we are in this ministry.
Have there been suitors coming?
Not that there were no suitors, but I do not give in. I don't give them time to come to that area. Men are there saying to me: 'Mama, you look beautiful,' 'You look gorgeous,' 'You look charming.' I just say to them, 'Oh, thank you very much.' It is the Holy Spirit that rejuvenates me. And if you believe in God that I believe in, He would also rejuvenate you. So, I don't give them that room to get to there (woo me).
What's your reaction to the call for churches to be regulated and to be taxed?
As far as I am concerned, I would like every street to have churches because it is better to have churches all around than to have shrines or brothels where they mess people up.
As for taxation, the government knows the best thing to do. And we are letting them know that it is the people that work in the various government and private establishments, whose taxes are deducted at source that come to churches. It is businessmen and women that come to churches. These people pay their taxes. Why then charge the churches again for tax. We are still on it, and we are praying that God would answer us and let them know that it is the same people that pay their taxes to government individually that are in the churches. There's no reason for the church to begin to pay taxes anymore.
There have been arguments as to whether women should mount the pulpit to preach the gospel. Is it biblical?
God is not mad at men and women. In the beginning, Genesis 1: 28-29, the bible said: "And God created the man and the woman." And not only that, He created them and gave authority to both of them. Not to the man alone. The bible said: "And He gave them power". He gave them the mind and the authority to go and dominate, to go and multiply. You can multiply by the word of God, and multiply biologically. God said: 'Go and multiply, dominate and spread the word whenever you go.' So, it is religion and tradition that relegated the woman. And unfortunately, the woman embraced it. But the mind of God is that men and women work together amicably. Before God, there's no difference. But functionally, we have differences. A woman is wired to produce children, to be pregnant. A man is not wired like that. So, functionally, they are different. But with authority from on high, they are equal before God. There's no male, no female before God. We all are equal. If a man can fulfill the things embedded in him from the foundation, why should a woman not fulfill that as well? So, I believe that God has called the man as well as the woman. God is not mad at the women preaching. God is not mad at the man preaching. It is only tradition that has kept the woman relegated.
As a church leader, you worry not only about yourself, but also about the entire country. Considering the insecurity in the nation, what is your message to the people?
My message is hold on to God, look up to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. That is my message to them. You know, insecurity is not only in Nigeria, it is everywhere. The only thing is that we have never experienced it in our lives in the history of Nigeria. It is new to us. That is why everybody is singing about it but I will say that with God on our side and with us as leaders of this country, instead of complaining, if we join our hearts and begin to pray for our leaders, we will direct them right.
What is you passion?
My passion is for the women, the widows and the physically challenged in our society. By the Grace of God, I have about three orphanages that I am taking care of. We have the one that I call, "My sisters' place". The more God gives me life and wisdom, the more I would do for the society.
You established the Restoration Centre for women. How many women have you trained and equipped so far?
Like as I said, if God gives a vision He would make sure that He brings people around that vision to provide for the vision. God has been very fateful since then. You know, when God gave us the name, the Christian Women Fellowship International, He did not tell us all the nitty-gritty, the ups and downs that we will pass on the way. But, you know, every year we come together as a body, God opens a little more about the vision and so, we have trained very many women. We also empowered them. We have skills acquisition where they learn how to fix hair, cosmetology, nail and sewing, making of hats and computer training. We have trained a lot of our women and when they finish, we make sure that we empower them. We either buy a hair dryer for them to go and start or anything. This is what we have been doing. And those of them that came in from different villages, we make sure we empower them with some money so that they can go home and start their own business.
I cannot tell you the number of them we have been able to train right now, but I know we have been training women since 1975. So, I cannot exactly tell you the number of people that we have trained. As a matter of fact, I don't take the list down. All I am interested in is to make sure that women are educated instead of just sitting down at home, waiting for a man to put food on the table. I tell them there is a lot in the inside of you, all you need is just a little push and you can be all that God wants you to be. So, we have been training and empowering women. I don't advertise it because I am not doing it for the people, I am doing it for every individual that is willing to be trained.
Via: Sun News Online