I attempted suicide three times, says retired pastor

A clergy, Rev Canon Olugbenga Gbadebo, has recalled how he attempted to commit suicide three times, as a result of difficulties he faced at some points.

Gbadebo, who linked the difficulties to his refusal for 13 years to yield to divine call, added that his ambition of being a journalist at the time was to work at the Presidency.

He gave the revelation on Sunday during his retirement service and 65th birthday celebrations at the African Church, Cathedral of St. Peter, Itakogun, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

The cleric, however, said since he answered the Lord’s call and took up work as a clergy after several years of struggles, his life experienced tremendous blessings.

He said, “For 13 years, God asked me to work for him but I refused. In the course of those 13 years, I became tired of life to the extent that I wanted to commit suicide on three occasions.

“On one of those occasions, I called a professor at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital to give me an injection that would kill me, but God said, ‘You will not die until you answer the call’.

“I was a journalist, and in the course of those 13 years, I had the opportunity to visit the Aso Rock, and I wanted to work at the Presidency. I tried several times, but I achieved nothing. So, in the fourteenth year, I surrendered.

“Since I surrendered, it has been an avalanche of blessings and I did not regret my time as a priest.”

Commenting on the state of the nation, the retired priest called on the government to introduce people-oriented programmes that would bring succour to the people.

“Our leaders should be compassionate. The government of the day should introduce people-oriented programmes because people are suffering while they are living large.

“The youth should have contentment as their watchwords. They must not run faster than their legs because those who run faster than their legs will crash dangerously,” the clergy said.