It's better to address him as Baba. Or how else would one address a 105-year-old? Born in 1900, he would not remember the exact date but he believes it was towards the end of August of that year. For 73 years, he has been on the pulpit and he prays to spend more years on earth!

Welcome to the amazing world of Rev. Samuel Akinbode Sadela, Nigerian oldest preacher.

This Wednesday morning, he walked to unaided into hi s office from the one-storey building he lives. Why should anyone help me to climb the stair-case? Even if it's three storey building, I will climb without blinking," he said as he sat down smartly on the sofa. Dressed in a multi­coloured ankara fabric', his fresh look deducts at least 25 years from his age.

Born in Ifon, Ondo State to Chief Sadela of Imoru, Baba revealed that Sadela means place of refuge. His forebears were herbalists. "When I was born," he recalled, "the oracle said that I would be a great herbalist and they saw me with albinos.

Maybe what the oracle refused to see were white men because I travelled abroad, ministered to whites and have them as my friends," he said. Almost 20 years ago, he would have changed from Sadela to another name, but "I heard God tell me thrice that it had been ordained.”

Call Baba an encyclopaedia of dates and historical events and you will not be wrong. For every happening in his life, he remembers the date. "In 1914, during the first world war, I left home for Benin, then Sapele. I saw Apostle Joseph Ayodele Babalola, the late founder of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) and stayed with him and obtained my Standard Six.

"In the year 1926, I started work as a court clerk and tax collector in Okitipupa. In the year 1931, I met Apostle Babalola and it was there I received my baptism by immersion. In 1932, I started preach­ing and I offered myself as a living sacrifice," he said.

According to him, his knowledge of the Bible emanated from angels. "From when I was a toddler, anytime I slept, I saw angels who taught me how to read the Bible. I was also given a fruit to swallow without eating. They told me that it was the fruit of life. Since then, there is nothing I can't remember and no examination I write without succeeding, I lived in Odo-Owa, Kwara State , Babalola's home-town for five years, and we became very close. There was a time we had a 40­day fasting and praying programme in 1948 and 'in 1937, I founded a church. "

Rev. Sadela seems to be the last man standing in his generation. Doesn't he feel bad that almost everyone he knew then is dead? Baba laughed. "I don't feel anyhow that" my colleagues are dead," he said as he sat upright. "Normally, life expectancy was meant to be a thousand years but because of man's sins, we die early. Longevity is hereditary. Three of my sisters were 130 years old before they died.

In my own case, I believe that longevity is a gift from God. It can't be achieved. The spirit of God tells me that I will live long. In fact by 2007, I'm going to London officially to preach." Doesn't he fear that he could die before then? He was quick to say that, "I don't think I will die, because my Creator told me that it's just that I'm begging God that he should allow me to go on a trip to preach in America, but I'm so sure of the London trip."

" In my own case, I believe that longevity is a gift from God. It can't be achieved. The spirit of God tells me that I will live long. In fact by 2007, I'm going to London officially to preach."

* Pa Sadela in the 1950s

Though he married twice, the two women, he explained, are dead. "All my colleagues were married in 1928 but I got married in 1934. I had my first child in 1935." Baba could be blunt sometimes. "My first wife was a witch and killed all the seven children I had! After much prayers, she confessed and I left her. I became afraid of women and waited for 10 years before I started praying that God should give me another wife. That was in 1965 and a pastor introduced me to a woman, she had children for me but she is late now."

His church, the Gospel Apostolic Church , is located in Gbagada, Lagos . "I came to Gbagada in 1962," he recalled. "Initially, I came with some white preachers from the Foursquare Church, from Okitipupa in 1964 and 1 told Apostle Babalola, but he said that God did not want me for that. He instructed me to insert the word 'apostolic' in my church's name. Then he was at Ede , where he died. Many churches were founded by me in Okitipupa. "

What is the secret of his strength? He wakes up at 5 am, reads his Bible, stands like three hours to preach, and jots down his sermons. He shaves his hair and beard every morning and organises vigils. "I can still go for long jumps," he said humorously and stands up to demonstrate his skills.

Any special diet? "I eat what everybody eats eba, amala, pounded yam, I eat meat, fish and if you dare boil my meat to be too soft, I would give it to little children. I like meat that are strong, whether cow, goat or bush meat. I'm a sugar addict from when I was young and till date, if I want to take tea, I make sure that I add three or more cubes of sugar."

Baba hardly falls ill. "I've never had any major illness," he said. "But for the headache I had when I was small, I don't fall ill. If I do, I wouldn't say it out and it goes without notice." He could also be very humorous. "Don't think that I'm old, I'm not. Don't be surprised if you see me get married to a white woman in 2007 when I will clock 107 years! I'd make sure that I go to see the queen."

Mentioning the queen reminded him of King George. "In 1925, when the Queen's father, King George was on the throne, I was in the Boys' Scout and was part of those who were supposed to visit him, but my father refused. Then I was in Standard six and a scout. King George was also a scout."

Any dream of death? "Not for once," he said. "There was a time I was always dreaming of people building founda­tions of saints in heaven, but I've not seen them build my own, which means that I will still live longer than this. He that sent me has said that it's not yet time for me to die. He ensures that I don't fall ill, not even stomach pain."

"Don't think that I'm old, I'm not. Don't be surprised if you see me get married to a white woman in 2007 when I will clock 107 years! I'd make sure that I go to see the queen."

Though he reads with glasses, he sees clearly without them. "No health problem, but there was a time that I had a minor accident in the bath­ room, but I'm alright now.

There was a time I had cata­ract, we contacted a doctor , operated on it and when it recurred, they said that I can't go for surgery again and I prayed over the eyes, I can see clearly now and my sight improves every year."

Apart from prayer, which he does at night, he loves to watch wres­tling and boxing. matches. "Even when I'm eating, I can't afford to miss watching these games. They are my favourites," Baba revealed.