Founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) Prophet TB Joshua, who died on Saturday, June 5, 2021, has been described as one of “the most powerful men that ever came out of Africa because of his influence on politicians in the continent.
Ghana
Days after late John Atta Mills became president of Ghana in 2009, his first port of call was Joshua’s church for a thanksgiving service where he revealed the cleric had accurately ‘prophesied’ his ascension to power and specific details relating to his narrow victory over Nana Akufo-Addo.
Joshua was a regular visitor to Ghana during Mills’ early presidency and allegedly organised prayer warriors to be praying in Osu Castle.
Malawi
Joshua’s much-publicised prophecy concerning the death of Malawian President Bingu Mutharika garnered intense media attention and was subsequently the subject of a Malawian government inquiry as his successor, Joyce Banda, is a devotee of the cleric.
Banda claimed Joshua’s prayers healed her husband after he suffered a stroke and regularly visited Joshua in Nigeria while she was head of state.
Tanzania
Joshua played the role of peacemaker in the aftermath of the Tanzanian elections in 2015, visiting the country to meet and hold reconciliatory talks with President John Magufuli – a member of his church – and opposition leader Edward Lowassa.
Commentators acknowledged his visit significantly reduced tensions in the country after the elections which the opposition party alleged were fraught with irregularities.
Liberia
Joshua was a key influence in former Liberian warlord Senator Prince Yormie Johnson’s decision to endorse the candidacy of George Weah for president in the 2017 Liberian elections.
His endorsement came days after the two were spotted publicly together in SCOAN, a visit that caused a media storm in Liberia.
Weah’s main opponent and former Vice President Joseph Boakai also allegedly requested to visit Joshua in light of the elections.
Weah eventually won the election to become Liberia’s 25th President.
South Sudan
In November 2019, Joshua visited South Sudan where he was received by President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
He led Mayardit and his cabinet in prayers for peace at the nation’s presidential palace in Juba and called on leaders to overcome their differences in a message broadcast on South Sudan’s state television.
In February 2020, South Sudan finally formed a unity government with peace brokered between Mayardit and rival leader Riek Machar.
