Nigeria’s Oldest Preacher, Samuel Sadela, Dies At 114

The Nigeria’s oldest preacher and longest serving Pastor/founder of Christ Gospel Apostolic Church, CGAC, Pa Samuel Sadela, has passed on.  Although a senior pastor in the church reportedly claimed that the man described as one of Nigeria’s oldest pastors could still be receiving treatment in a hospital, he was said to have died in the premises of the church in Lagos. The 114-year-old preacher died on Sunday.
A condolence register was opened in the premises of his church, Gospel Apostolic Church, in Lagos, on Tuesday evening. He reportedly died few hours before commencement of a special revival programme that would have culminated in the celebration of his 114th birthday on Sunday, August 31.

He was born and brought up in Ifon. His father was an idol worshiper while his mother was a princess of Ifon, both in Ifon. History has it that he was born in the month of August 1900, at a period when the first General Overseer of the church resumed in his town.

When he marked his 113th last year birthday, the aged pastor had expressed hope to live up to 200 years of age. He had said, “I feel happy to be this old. Actually, I feel like a young man. I still enjoy my meal of Iyan (pounded yam), Eba and bush meat. I sleep whenever I want to and wake up stronger I want to live longer to prove to all that God remains the same as He was in times past. If Methuselah could live for 969 years, God can make me live well beyond 113. If Noah could be 950, it is not too much for Him to make me live up to 200.”

Even if that wish was not granted, Sadela left an indelible imprint in the hearts of his members and admirers around the world. The cleric, who claimed angels taught him to read the Holy Bible when he was only two years of age, raised not a few eyebrows when he married a 30-year-old woman in 2007.