Religion

APOSTLE AYODELE BABALOLA’S LEGACY IN IPETU-IJESA

Published by Akinwale Fakinlede on July 31st, 2025.

By Ebenezer Idowu Babatunde

Almost everyone knows the name of Apostle Ayo Babalola, the revered leader whose faith ignited a revival that swept through Nigeria most especially in 1930. The phrase “Olorun Ayo Babalola” is not just a cliché; it is more of an invocation. It is an invocation of the powerful God who raised the dead in 1930. But in Ipetu-Ijesa, his name carries a different weight. We don’t just know of him; we lived with him. His footsteps, his prayers, and his miracles are woven into the very soil and streams of our land.

In the heart of Ipetu-Ijesa, tucked away in a quiet corner at Wasimi Street, stood the humble house that served as the residence of Apostle Babalola. It was his home when he was first called by God on the night of September 25th, 1928. It was his home when he heeded the call and started his ministry. It was not just a home; it was a sanctuary, a place where faith and miracles flourished, touching the lives of many who passed through its doors. Those who visited knew that they were stepping into something sacred. The air itself felt charged with a spiritual energy, as if the heavens rested over that small plot of earth.

But perhaps the most legendary aspect of Babalola’s time in Ipetu Ijesa is tied to the popular Oika Stream. To the untrained eye, Oika was just another stream, meandering quietly through the landscape. But this was the first stream the late Apostle used for the very first of his many miracles. For those who sought healing, for the desperate and the broken, it was a river of life. Water, the most basic element, became the instrument through which Babalola channelled divine power. The blind came and left seeing, the crippled walked, and the sick were restored, all through the “Omi Iye”, the life-giving water blessed by the Apostle.

It was during one of these moments that the now-famous CAC song was born: “Babalola olomi iye de o, omi iye.” The song wasn’t just sung; it was breathed into life by those who had experienced the miracles first-hand. “Babalola, the one with water of life is here, water of life”, they sang with joy, and they meant it. To them, the water wasn’t just a symbol; it was life itself, delivered through the faith of the man who did many impossible things.

Imagine it: early morning fog rising off the Oika Stream, the gentle murmur of water against rock, and people, some from distant towns, gathered around, their hopes pinned on a prayer, on a touch, on a few drops of water, scooped up by his bell. And there stood Babalola, unassuming yet filled with a power that could not be contained, whispering prayers that seemed to blend with the wind, carrying healing to those who were ready to receive it.

His residence in Ipetu-Ijesa became a beacon of faith and hope. It was said that no one who came seeking left empty-handed. Whether they sought physical healing or spiritual renewal, they found what they needed. Babalola’s life in Ipetu-Ijesa wasn’t just about miracles, though; it was about community. He lived with the people, shared in their struggles, and guided them through both their everyday challenges and their deeper spiritual journeys.

And so, to we the people of Ipetu Ijesa, Babalola wasn’t just a revered figure from stories passed down; he was our neighbour, our healer, and our spiritual guide. He was a true testament to our hospitality and friendliness. His presence still lingers in the town’s collective memory, like the gentle ripples of the Oika Stream, ever-flowing and ever-reminding us of the miracles that once graced our lands.

Here, we don’t just know Apostle Babalola, we remember him, for he lived among us. His name, his song, and his miracles are etched into the heart of Ipetu-Ijesa, where the life-giving water still whispers of faith, hope, and healing.

Babatunde Idowu Ebenezer,
The Last Wordbender®
©July, 2025.