Entering this vast compound, I noticed the absence of state-of­ the art cars like Hummer Jeep, which some men of God of your ilk drive. Could it be that you are hiding them somewhere?

No, no, no! I lead a simple life. A man's life does not consist in the abundance of mundane possessions. By the grace of here is no car I want to ride today that I cannot afford to buy, but that is not my priority.

Does it mean that you don't like posh cars?
I do love cars because I have to move. One, I am here to touch lives, and two why are you flaunting your wealth in the midst of so many poor people? It does not make any sense to me.

You appear very casual, what is your dressing habit like?
I wear suit on pulpit because of the nature of my job. It's only on ceremonial occasions that I wear a free gown. I appear like this today because I had a meeting with all the Southwest chairmen of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria because I am their national vice chairman, Southwest. The meeting took a long time and I felt I would be comfortable in this simple outfit.

Who was Francis Wale Oke as a growing boy?
(Laughter) Actually, I had a stint with poverty. I grew up in a village. We were very poor. I had to trek three miles to and from school each day; no shoe. My father was a lay reader in the church then, while my mother was a petty trader. When I left primary school, they didn't have money to send me to secondary school, so, I had to serve as a houseboy for two years to put money together.

Where?
It was in Ibadan here, then Ijebu-Ode before I came down to Lagos . I went to Teachers' Modern School in those days before going to Teachers College. After that, I went to the polytechnic, Ibadan before going to the University of Lagos, where I graduated.

Who sponsored your education? (Deep sigh) It's a combination of self­ efforts. I weaved basket and sold, I fetched firewood and sold. When I got to the Teachers College, my brother has just concluded his National Youth Service. It was tough struggle, but today, when I look back, I give thanks to God for He has lifted me. That is why I said earlier that there is no kind of car I want today that I cannot buy.

" I was the one that would ring the bell in my church in the morning and I did it twice on Sundays. However, I was not born-again. There is a world of difference between being religious and being born-again. I was just religious..."

You did not become a Christian overnight; something significant must have prompted you. Can you share it with us?
I was born and raised in the African Church, where I was taught early enough to read the Bible and fear God. I was the one that would ring the bell in my church in the morning and I did it twice on Sundays. However, I was not born-again. There is a world of difference between being religious and being born-again. I was just religious.

What actually happened?
It was when I was in the Teachers College. One day, a mate of mine was going to attend a church programme outside the campus. Odutola is his name. Incidentally, he is the current general-secretary of the Bible Society of Nigeria. I was the college organist and I was to play on the organ that day in the chapel. I said, my friend, you are going to your church and you didn't invite me.

I offered to follow him and he gladly agreed. When I got to the church, they were totally different; they were happy, singing. The way the word of God was taught was something else. That was the day I knew that 'religion alone couldn't save me. Then I felt I needed to repent of my sins and give my life to Jesus Christ. In spite of my religiousity, if I had died before then, I would have gone to hell. I heard the word of God and gave my life to Christ.

When was that?
It was in 1975. A year after, God called me and I did my first crusade in December 1976 and I have been preaching since then.

We met as members of the same church. I was one of her leaders and then, I was following her up with others. There was no inkling that we were going to get married. Those were the days you could not even shake hands with sisters.

When did you meet your wife?
I met my wife, Victoria Oluwatokunbo, in 1976 at The Polytechnic, Ibadan .

How?
We met as members of the same church. I was one of her leaders and then, I was following her up with others. There was no inkling that we were going to get married to each other at all. Those were the days you could not even shake hands with sisters. So during the long vacation, I would go and visit her at home, but I never believed we would get married.

In 1977, we parted but she still remained at the polytechnic. In May 1982; I was praying and God spoke to me that she would be my wife. I therefore had to travel down to Ibadan

then. She was then at the University of Ibadan . I asked for her hand in marriage. Incidentally, she had known 15 months before, and she had been praying for me. That was how it happened. We've been married now for over two decades and we thank God for His blessings On the marriage.

As a young boy, how was your social life?
I was very naughty. Maybe because I was very brilliant, I was very pompous and daring. I would quarrel with everybody. I used to play table tennis very well. Oh, I was very nasty.

Despite the fact that you came from a poor family?
Yes! However, my father was very disciplined. He had dignity.

For your naughtiness, your father must have been very hard on you...
Oh, he beat the hell out of me. In fact, if back home, I reported that my teacher beat Me in school I was in trouble because he would give me another round of beating, in the belief that my teacher couldn't have beaten me if I had not done something wrong. He would always drum it into my ear, “remember the son of whom you are." However, my naughtiness didn't get to immoral behaviour like chasing girls.

So you didn't have a girlfriend...
I didn't really have, we only talked about ladies among ourselves. My wife was my real first girlfriend. I think God preserved me.

How has it been serving God as His minister?
It's been quite fulfilling.

The Prayer for the nation which held in Abuja on January 20, what informed it? Or did you just wake up one day and felt that there should be a prayer for the nation?
Let me first clarify that it was a prompt response to a divine instruction to heal Nigeria and release her from bondage. It was a clear spiritual instruction that the problems of Nigeria have a spiritual foundation, and until we deal with the foundation, we will not be able to deal with the problems. There are many believers murmuring and complaining about our nation. Many, because of certain policies, actions and inactions of the government of the day, have stopped praying for the government. Rather, they are angry at the system and are cursing the rulers.

The other day, I was in a gathering of truly spirit-filled pastors. We were deliberating on the events in the land, when one man of God said openly that “I have long stopped praying for the nation. As a matter of fact, I am praying that the President should die." But I could understand what he must have been going through. For three years, his son had no job after concluding his national youth service. The pump prices of petroleum products have gone through the roof, likewise the prices of basic commodities.

Violence fills the land and the stench of our corruption reaches the high heavens. We have been rated among the most religious, yet the most corrupt nation on earth. For these, there is much anger in the land, especially among the saints, and against the rulers of the land. These are the exact reasons why we should step up our prayers more than ever before.

And you mean the January 20 prayer will yield fruits, considering the fact that we have been praying in the past... '
Sure! Don't you know that the prayer of just one man can make a real difference in the life of a nation of millions (1 Kings 8:38; Ezekiel 22:30)? Don't you know that your heart-felt prayer before the throne of God, in mercy, may spare and save our nation (Genesis 18: 22-33)7 The Bible puts it matter-of-factly that "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5: 16).

You will recall that during the Nigeria Turning Point prayer vigil that we held before the 2003 elections, we broke the vicious cycle of political instability that had plagued the nation, particularly with the years ending with 3, like 53, 63, 73, 83 and 93. God answered our prayer and the transition from civilian to civilian rule was peaceful.

Again, we held the prayer last year against corruption, asking God to expose the Corrupt who would not repent. The president himself was there. Shortly after, the unthinkable began to happen, from the then Senate President to the former Police Inspector-General, education minister, housing minister to the former Bayelsa ­State Governor. We are out to do it again. So, we have to pray before Apostle Paul ordered it, and we need it to restore the waned glary of our nation, and that we may enjoy collective peace and prosperity.