Adedeji Adeleke, the father of music star Davido, has revealed how a government official attempted to block his $2 billion power plant project by denying him the necessary environmental permit.
Speaking at the Seventh Day Adventist Church’s General Conference Annual Council in Maryland, USA, Adeleke shared his experience dealing with difficult government officials. One official, in particular, boldly told him that the project would never “see the light of day.”
Adeleke explained: “I am a businessman in Nigeria, involved in the electricity business. I own a power plant that generates about 15% of Nigeria’s electricity needs, and I have Chinese engineering companies working with me.”
He further revealed that he is constructing Nigeria’s largest power plant, a 1,250-megawatt facility set to be completed by January 2025. However, during the process of obtaining permits, he faced significant challenges. His environmental permit was denied, and an official told him the project would never move forward.
“But while he was saying that, I was thinking to myself, ‘this man is talking as if he is God.’ I prayed to God because whatever the official said was not final.”
Despite the setback, Adeleke reassured his Chinese partners, who were worried about the project’s future, especially since it involved the Afrexim Bank of China. He had already invested heavily in the design and preliminary stages, and the blockage seemed like a major setback. However, after praying, he received a surprising call from the Ministry of Power, asking him to visit the minister’s office.
“When I arrived, I was handed the permit. I didn’t know what happened, but I later found out that the official blocking the permit had fallen ill and was flown to Germany for treatment,” he recounted.
Rounding off his speech, Adeleke added: “I don’t know if it has worked for you, but it has always worked for me. That it seems that prayers that are said on the Sabbath day are answered faster than other prayers.” This remark caused the congregation to burst into laughter.
He continued: “I have heard rumours about church leaders, elders, doing all kinds of things, but it has not affected me because I have always said to myself that we are all human beings, that anybody can be tempted, and I am not going to allow any behaviour of a pastor or a president or whatever in the church to affect my focus, because my focus is our Lord Jesus Christ.”
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