-
Archbishop ISAAC IDAHOSA Reveals
-
At His 60th Birthday In LAGOS
Archbishop Isaasc Idahosa joined politics in 2023. He emerged running mate to Senator Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the standard bearer of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator (Dr.) Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. It came as a big surprise to many at the time who couldn’t imagine Archbishop Idahosa going into politics. And if he would join politics at all, many would’ve expected he would be found in the company of his kinsmen and not with a northern political party like the NNPP that is replete with strong northern Muslims who may not be able to accommodate not just a practicing Christian but an Archbishop for that matter.
But somehow, this strange marriage between the Archbishop and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso appears to have worked pretty well as they have both developed a strong bond over the last one and half years that seems to have defied logic. They love and respect each other. The chemistry between them is uncommon. Archbishop Idahosa does not hide the fact that he revers his principal and has total trust in him and his capability to take the NNPP to greater heights. Senator Kwankwaso also loves his running mate, he described him as a good man during his birthday tribute to Archbishop Idahosa.
At the 60th birthday celebration of Archbishop Designate Isaac Idahosa, at the Sheraton hotel in Ikeja, Lagos on February 8th, 2025, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso stormed the event along with several other dinitaries including former minister for State, Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, former governor of Cross River, Donald Duke, Niger State Governor, Muhammed Umar Bago and Pastor Ituah Ighodalo. Other men of God including Dr. Chris Okafor of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministry aka Liberation City, was also present. The event auditorium was filled to the brim with dozens of members of the NNPP, most of whom were in their traditional white outfit and red and white cap to indicate rtheir membership of the Kwankwasiyya. An obviously elated Archbishop Idahosa, the birthday boy, was happy to see them turn out at his party in their numbers. He was even more ecstatic to hear Senator Kwankwaso pay him such heartwarming tribute. Hear him:
“Bishop Isaac Idahosa, congratulations for attending attaining this special age. I believe it is not only the figure that matters, but what you have done for humanity. I believe you have done enough. You have gotten the pass mark and nobody can take that away from you. We see you as one of us any day, any time because we believe you are a good man.You are the sort of Nigerian that should be supported.” During the biography of the celebrant which was shown to guests on the big screen, the celebrant also spokle glowingly of his principal, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
He began: “Thank you for that question about my own very principal and mentor. The man I call an enigma, an institution. A man that, when you enroll into the school where he is the mentor, you don’t have a day of graduation. But he’s a man of so many parts, a very selfless man. A man who loves and has so much deep concern for the masses. Practical, reachable, touchable. He feels the pains of the masses and he does something about their needs. A man who lives for others. In every generation, we have very rare people like that that God would raise for a people. A man I have loved so closely and has taught me so much. Beyond politics, we are now a family. A man who is not a religious bigot. A God-fearing man. I’m talking about his Excellency, Senator Dr. Engineer, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a two-time governor of Kano state.”
“God used him to transform Kano to a different level. A man who was used by God to raise those who never thought they could go to school, sponsored them and most of them returned back to become useful to the family, community, the state and Nigeria. I can remember thousands of them. A man with an enduring, abiding legacy, a living legend. A man who saw me and chose to draw me close to himself and began to pour in me so much knowledge. When I am with this man, I say no words. A man who thought it wise to put upon me the burden of who will be his running mate. He asked me to scout for, to set out in search of a credible running mate for him. That is to say, he believed in my judgment. And I took time to look out for one or two. I called on two spiritual fathers, if they could guide me through. But then, it was that close. About seven days to the closure to INEC’S deadline, I’m talking about the 2023 general elections because he stood in as the flag bearer for NNPP, presidential candidate. Then, he calls me Bishop. Humbly, I respond. And on this fateful day, he asked me to, if I couldn’t get one, could I fly into Kano?
It was a Sunday. And I flew into the hands of hundreds of thousands of people. And after a while, he asked me to say hello to the people. And he asked me, would you want to speak in Hausa or English? I said, in Hausa. He said, ah, pls can they hand me the microphone. And the place went agog. Long story short, he told me, let’s fly to Abuja and look for a running mate. When we got to Abuja, well, he said, where are you from, bishop? He knows, he’s a man who always wants you to speak your thoughts. I said, I’m from Edo State, South, South. He said, well, tomorrow, Wednesday, you will go and get interviewed. You sit in that hot seat. And there, the likes of Buba Galadima, all the juggernauts of the NNPP were seated.
I was the 19th person to be interviewed. The first question was, what’s your vision, if you happen to be taken as the running mate to this enigma, Kwankwaso? Well, I said, I don’t have a vision. If I’m to be a running mate, I don’t have a vision. And they wondered why. And I said to them, if I brought in my vision then what we’ll have on ground will be division. And the second question will be, do you know you are a potential president? And I asked how. Should your principal or the president die or is incapacitated? I didn’t know when I got up and I hit on the table, and I said, not over my watch. No, no, no, no, God will not allow that, he will run his course. Well, these were the two questions that deal on loyalty. And for about one hour, I was being questioned until he showed up and said, enough is enough, leave it at that.
So they asked me to go and get my CV, and I said, well, I’m not looking for a job. They said, don’t you have your CV on your phone? I said, I wasn’t looking for a job. I’ve been pastoring for 34 years, as at now, I employ, I am not an employee. Well, they asked me, we are now seeing you as the running mate. Quickly, do all you can do. This was a Wednesday. Get your wife, your family involved to gather your CVs, there is a reason. Get them and send them to us through a soft copy. I got back to Lagos, called on my wife in America and my elder sister. Long story short, I got all those stuff together, I forwarded a soft copy. That same night, Wednesday night, remember Friday was the last day to close the INEC’s portal as per for the running mates. And as soon as I got the soft copy sent across, I just started seeing my name all over social media, what have you. I was wondering, I called on my mentor, my Oga, my principal and he said, don’t worry, it’s one of those things.
I realized people pay so much to get the privilege he was offering to me, but I spent not a dime. Not a dime. This is a different specie of person, not a dime did they require from me. Not one naira all through my journey. Not one naira have they ever required from me as a running mate. Long story short, today I was called upon that same day to come over to Abuja for the unveiling and very shortly everyone will see on the screen the unveiling and how I was unveiled as a running mate to the soon to be the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And I believe in God, with time, this will come to fruition. This is a man I follow. This is the man that circumcised me politically and this is a man I am loyal to. A man who has taught me the ABC of perseverance in politics and in life. A man who fears God. A man who loves the people. That is my own very principal, Senator Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.”
