Timothy Oluwole Obadare, the blind prophet; renowned evangelist and founder of the World Soul Winning Evangelical Mission (WOSEM), whom thousands revered because of his reported healing powers died yesterday at an undisclosed private hospital in Akure, the Ondo State capital after undisclosed illness. He was 86 years old.
Obadare was a renowned Akure-based evangelist of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) worldwide before the ministry fell apart over certain issues within the church. He was noted for the monthly Koseunti Crusade, and he died 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.
The death of the man widely known as Prophet T. O. Obadare was confirmed by the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Ondo State branch, Bishop Joshua Ketiku, who said the man’s death came as a rude shock. The CAN chairman said the deceased lived a good life and had gone to rest saying “Baba is happier where he is now.”
Also, the media aide to Obadare, Pastor Michael Awe, described him as a great evangelist, who travelled wide within and outside the country on rigorous evangelism activities. 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.
Mimiko, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Eni Akinsola, said Obadare’s life, ministry and influence can be likened to those of saints, rare and uncommon. “In his way of life, concern for the lost soul and uplifting of the name of God, Obadare stands tall among the prophets of his generation and broke barriers that health attempted to place on his way. He was consistent and controlled, aggressive yet unobstructive and had no pretensions about his faith and God.”
