Veteran comedian and master of ceremonies, Abiodun Olapade, aka MC Abbey, talks to BLESSING ENENAITE about his journey, achievements and other issues
What influenced your decision to be a master of ceremonies and a comedian?
My journey into being an MC and comedian was influenced by an experience. In that experience, I was given an opportunity to anchor an event in the Church of God Mission, Warri, Delta State, by Gordons (a popular comedian). He was supposed to do the anchoring but he had an event in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. So, he asked me to represent him in the church, which I reluctantly did because I did not know that I would go into comedy. I went and while I anchored the event, I saw the joy it brought to people there. That was a defining moment for me. I just felt it in my spirit that if it was what it was, to create this kind of moment in the lives of people, and also to be able to coordinate events properly, I said I would love to do it. That was the defining moment for me. That was in 2002.
You have also delved into ministry. Why did you choose this path?
It is God that chooses one’s path. I started ministry way back in 1985 before I started comedy. I was in primary school then. That was when I got born again and started a fellowship in my school. When I got to secondary school, I was a fellowship head, up to the Anambra State University, Awka, where I pioneered the Word of Life Campus Fellowship and I became the first national president.
I have always led my life around church. When I left school, I thought I was going to go straight into ministry but I was told by God to hold on till the right time, which He would tell me. It was through God’s divine direction that I was ushered into anchoring events and comedy, which I did not find funny at that time because I was not interested. That defining moment convinced me to do it and I thought it was going to be for some few years. Then, I was going to do ministry, but it (comedy and anchoring events) lingered for 30 something more years.
Every time I felt the nudge within me, I asked God what was happening and He kept telling me to hold on. There was a time I was in Lagos and I wanted to start my ministry and I prayed over it, but it seemed that God went on holidays in my head that day. I woke up the next day and asked everyone to forget about it.
The fire was burning within me but I could not express it. God asked me to hold on. That was when I decided that I was going to throw my weight into my comedy and MC job until God was ready. In 2019, God told me to get ready and I prepared myself mentally and spiritually. When God was ready, I asked Him to give me more years because I wanted to focus on my comedy. God said it was time and I yielded. I am running an online ministry for now and with God’s guidance, we will evolve. It’s been a year already.
Some people have said some pastors go into ministry because of money. What do you have to say about this?
Well, it is a wrong notion. People just generalise stuff. There is no iota of truth in that. A genuine man of God called by God is not in it for money. He is in it for the purpose of the gospel. I have been the one spending my money in the ministry. We are also not looking for funds. I still go to my church, House on the Rock, and I have told my pastor that I am not leaving in a hurry.
What have you achieved so far as the head pastor of Destiny Ways International?
I used to tell my people that we may not be where we want to be but we are not where we used to be. A lot of lives have been touched, not just locally but globally. We have a lot of people listening to us from all over the world in the United Kingdom, Canada, United States, France, South Africa and Ghana. We have testimonies from them and how they have been enlightened. Our mission practically is to reveal God to man, to raise true worshippers unto God, and to express the love of God to a dying world.
The three pillars the ministry stands on are word, worship and outreach. We preach the grace and love of God. We once got a missionary call from displaced persons in the North affected by insurgencies and the outreach arm of my ministry sent relief materials, including food, clothes and money. In Lagos, we have also tried to reach out to some few people based on our capacity. For some, we have had to pay school fees and hospital bills. We hope to do more, including going to the prisons where we will minister to the inmates and see how we can help them from where they are.
Our motto is revealing the love of God to a dying world. No one wants to know the God of love until they have experienced the love of God. It is the showing of love that people are convinced they are loved by God. My team is not much, but with the little we can, we have been able to touch lives.
You have been in the entertainment industry for a while now. What are the factors that have brought you this far?
People say I am humble. However, I do not like the idea of pride when one feels that one has arrived and no one can talk to that person. That is not me. I have always projected a life of humility, care and helping people. There are some people that come into one’s life because of what they can get from that person. If it is within my power to help that person, I will do it. I limit my commitment to them. I think that has helped me so far.
How would you describe your early years in the industry and now?
My early years in the industry were a tough one. I grew organically. I was not one of those who went through a platform and became famous. I started from the bottom when I was in Warri. Then I came to Lagos. Thank God for the likes of Ali Baba, Teju Babyface, Basket Mouth and Tee A, who were nurturers in my journey.
Growing organically added to the juice. I studied and prepared my acts. In my early days, the space was not as it is now. It was tough and we were tough with it. We were ready to go all the way with it. I had to go to a finishing school to harness my craft and it helped me. Now, it is more work than before because we have a lot of new talents who are very good, creative, smart and intelligent. Hence, one has to up one’s game and be innovative. It puts fire on one’s feet to run.
What are some of your notable achievements as an entertainer?
There are a lot and I can’t count them. I have used the platform to help the underprivileged in many ways. I have organised programmes to reach out. In terms of helping marriages, we have also helped out in this aspect. There was a time I was doing my one mic stand show, which was practically for matured singles and couples, and dealt with relationships. I organised the show till 2020.
I have used my platform to be a voice to speak to the government and they have been able to listen to some of my contributions.
Some people have condemned comedy performances inside churches. What do you have to say about this?
I will say they lack understanding. They do not understand the gift. So, because of that, they misinterpret it. I always tell people to study what they do not understand before making conclusions. People should not make comments out of context. People want to sound spiritual and they fail to understand that the gifts that we have, they are gifts from God. The devil does not have any gift to give. The Bible said that all good and perfect gifts come from above.
One of the gifts of the spirits is healing and humour is medicinal. It is powerful and brings healing to the body. Medically and psychologically, it has been proven. If it is good in these two ways, why should it be condemned (in the church)? The reason it has been condemned is because we have comedians who have abused it because they do not understand the gift they have. Hence, when they are given platforms in churches, they take things out of context. They do not respect the ordinances of the church. Because of that, people who are condemning comedy in churches are capitalising on those things and generalise them, and that is a big problem.
One does not just generalise something because of some few bad eggs. God is not against comedy, neither did the Bible condemn it. The Bible is only against unholy jest. As long as the jest is not unholy, it is acceptable (in the church).
Also, the gift in the wrong hand will be abused, but if that same tool is put in the right hand, one will see the productivity and effectiveness of it. It is important that while doing comedy in churches, one should not insult the sacredness of our faith or even the Holy Spirit. That is very important to note. With comedy, one can minister and bring life and hope to the people.
In recent times, some pastors have been involved in some controversies. Do you live your life to be extra careful or do you live it normal?
To whom much is given, much is expected. People are reading our lives. Hence, I am extremely careful. The Bible says all things can be lawful but not all things are expedient. Because of that, it is very important one lives one’s life within the confines of righteous conduct. For those who have led their lives outside that confine, that does not qualify them to be bad pastors. It is just a struggle that they need to overcome. Everyone has got a struggle but everyone has to deal with it.
If one commits one’s struggle before God, the spirit of God will help one. If one doesn’t, that is where one will find oneself in trouble. God will heal, mould and empower them. When one sees one’s brother fall, it is not just because they are men of God, they are children of God first. When one sees them fall, one’s duty is to restore them. They should not be criticised or condemned. Rather, they should be shown love.
Who are your mentors as a pastor?
I have a few of them. They include Pastor Paul Adefarasin and Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, whom I was under for a long time. I listen to other men of God within and outside Nigeria, including Bishop Thomas Jakes.
How would you describe your relationship with the late gospel singer, Sammie Okposo?
My relationship with Sammie Okposo was very deep. He was like my elder brother. He was the first person who opened my doors into the international market, especially to the United Kingdom. It was through him I went to the UK for the first time. He took me on many tours to the UK, Ghana, United States and many other places. He was so close to me. His death pained me so much and it came to me as a great shock. My comfort is in the book of Isaiah 57 verse 1, which says that the righteous are taken away from us and we don’t bother to find out why. We fail to understand that God has delivered them from the evil to come, and God has called them to rest. Sammie has done his part and has given his all to the kingdom.
Anywhere he went, he always projected Jesus. No matter what the crowd was, be it secular or political crowd, Sammie would sing about Jesus. He brought gospel music into the mainstream. He paved the way and he was a unifier.
What are your memorable moments as an entertainer?
Being an entertainer has opened me up to many platforms, both political and corporate. I have done a lot of corporate events from banking, to telecoms, to health, agricultural, and in many other sectors. I have done stuff for the American embassy too. I have also represented Nigeria outside the shores of the country and it has opened doors for me. Above all, my presence at ‘The Experience’ every year, standing there in the largest gospel music concert and cracking jokes is the icing of the memorable moments for me. I have met with presidents, leaders and I don’t think there is anyone that will threaten me with prestige and presence because I have met with a lot of them.
What are your other areas of interest?
I love singing. Songs just flow in my spirit and I quickly write them. One day, I will go to the studio and properly work on them.
How do you unwind?
I like relaxing with my family at home, watching television and discussing things with my wife. I’m more of a family person.
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