Nigeria’s Oldest Preacher Dies At 114 Years

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines Tuesday, August 26th, 2014

Nigeria’s oldest preacher and founder, Gospel Apostolic Church, GAC, Pa Samuel Sadela is dead. He died at the age of 114.

Sadela was born in 1900 and has spent about 84 years preaching the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Pa Samuel Sadela

A top source in the church told African Examiner that Sadela died around 4:15 am on Sunday, saying that he might have died as a result of old age.

“He just complained of tiredness, but he died strong. He even preached last Sunday in the church standing and vocal,” says a top member of the church who craved anonymity.

Sadela has established over 180 branches of the GAC world wide and was said to have been ordained a preacher by the late founder of the Christ Apostolic Church, cac, Ayo Babalola in 1932 when he was still a member of CAC.

It was gathered that he was with Pa Babalola when he fasted for 40 days and joined him in the praying and fasting.

“He was commissioned by Babalola who told him to establish a new church before he died when CAC was having problem. Pa Babalola told him that he should retain the name ‘Apostolic’ in church which was why it is called Gospel Apostolic Church,” a member top member of the church said.

He was also instrumental for the bringing of Four Square Gospel Church to Nigeria. His wife died in 2005 and he remarried about six years ago when he was 107 years to a 30-year old woman.

Sadela is survived by two children-Pastor Nathaniel Sadela and Deaconess Adewunmi Sadela.

Pastor Nathaniel, who heads the Ikeja branch of GAC is touted to be his replacement, but the burial plans have not been announced by the church yet.

Rev. Sadela was born in the last Saturday of August, 1900 at Ifon, Ondo State, South- West Nigeria. His parents were Chief Olomonehin Sadela of Imoru (Second in command to the Olumoru of Imoru) and Princess Adetiye Sadela, a princess in the Adaniker ruling house in Ifon.

It was not difficult for him to remember the year of his birth because it was the year the District Officer (a white man) under the colonial rule assumed duty at Ifon. Hence he was fondly called “Aboyinbode” (which means born the same year the white man arrived) by his parents, relatives and friends from childhood till he became adult. Though, his father came from the Olisa Chieftaincy House of Imoru, he was living at Ifon at the time of his birth. His grand -father – Adidi was a warrior of repute, but Reverend Samuel Sadela is a warrior of Christ Jesus.

In 1902 as a toddler, little Akinbode was said to have been taught how to read the Holy Bible by the angels of God. Surprisingly, he could not read any other book apart from the Bible by then.

He completed standard six education in 1920. He was an active member of the Boys Scout. He narrowly missed an opportunity to travel to England in 1925 as part of the Nigerian Contingent of the Boys Scout. He could not make the trip because his father was indisposed.

He passed the Senior Cambridge in 1946 and London University Matriculation in 1949. Simultaneously while he was studying for Cambridge and Matriculation examinations; he was a correspondence Law Student of Woolshall College, London. He studied Law for 3½ years and he was qualified to go to the Law School in London for 9 months after which he would have been called to Bar.

When he informed Apostle Babalola he was advised not to go and he sacrificed the legal profession for the work of God. Apostle Babalola predicted that a time would come that Rev. Sadela would be surrounded by various professionals (Particularly Choristers with Musical Instruments) working with him in the vineyard of God. To the glory of God, today the prophecy has been fulfilled.