Asake: Skies Dim For The Rare Gem

BY SIMON REEF MUSA
Fearless in conviction and humble in approach; down-to-earth and resilient in belief and unwavering in commitments; such was the life of the late General Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr (Rev) Musa Asake. He came from a background that was marred with impediments against man’s capacity to rise up above his limitations.
Having emerged from the dim tunnels of rural dwelling into limelight, he became a voice that sought to safeguard and protect the weak of the Nigerian society. Considering that the truth had become an enemy in a country enmeshed in injustice, he was later to play and rallied forces for truth at all times. Beyond promoting excellence, justice and equity for all of God’s children he came across, irrespective of class, ethnic or religious divide, the late CAN scribe effortlessly got in sync with all manner of people in the daily journey of life.
Asake was different to many people. He was jovial as he was frank; he was concerned with the earth as he was committed to the service of God in preparation for the final journey beyond mortal ken. Loyalty was part of him, and he ensured that age should not be a barrier in remaining loyal to those above him.
He saw his ecclesiastical call as service to mankind and was passionate in joining forces with others to make the society a better place. As a man deeply connected to his roots, he was a symbol demanding for safety for Christians living in Nigeria, especially in the North. As a pastor, he was committed to the things of God. As an administrator, he played by the rules and was never engaged in under-the-table negotiations for pecuniary interest.
Those who knew him believed that like a man he did his best and was never afraid to stand by the truth at all times. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo describes him as one of God’s General that did his best to serve his maker and humanity. To the President of CAN, Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle, Asake was a down-to-earth man who was courageous and dutiful at all times, adding, “He was also respectful and was hardworking in all the assignments assigned to him. His loyalty was unalloyed.”
Unlike others who got their vision at mid-day, the late CAN scribe had his early in life. Born in 1952 to the family of Malam Asake Tunzuwang and Malama Dada in Zakwo village, Unguwar Rimi Bajju, Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, they young Musa attended the then Sudan Interior Mission Primary School (SIM/ECWA), now known as LEA Primary School Unguwar Rimi Bajju in 1961. By 1967 he had acquired his First School Leaving Certificate.

With his successful completion of primary education, he worked for five years at the Arewa Textile Limited Kaduna. Burning with the zeal to realise his pastoral calling, he applied and secured an admission at the famous Kagoro Bible College in 1972. By 1976, the young Musa had completed his foundational theological training at the age of 24 years. He was later to return to his home church, ECWA Church, Unguwa Rimi Bajju, as an assistant pastor and thereafter in 1979 appointed Pastor.

For Pastor Musa, his consecration as pastor, as he would later reveal to his congregation and audiences, was hinged on his praying mother who early in her marriage prayed that God should choose one of her sons to serve Him. Leadership traits seemed innate in him early in life, as he continued to grow in grace and serving the people faithfully. Pastor Musa never missed out on the essentials that education remains the most powerful agent in advancing potentials. He applied for further theological training at the Jos ECWA Theological Seminary (JETS) in 1980. At the end of the course in 1983, he returned to his home church where he was ordained Reverend in December, 1984.
Still thirsty for educational accomplishments, Asake gained admission into the Grace College, Winona Lake Indiana in United States of America where he graduated in 1987 with a degree in Biblical Studies. His quest for knowledge never waned as he got enrolled for a Masters Degree programme in 1988 at the famous Dallas Theological Seminary, In Dallas Texas, USA where he graduated in 1991 with Masters of Theology ((ThM), with specialization on Historical Theology. He was later to cap his academic quest in 1996 at the same famous institute in 1996 with Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Bible Exposition.
Asake did not simply walk his way to become CAN General Secretary on a platter of gold; he paid his dues, both in ecclesiastical calling and demonstration of administrative acumen. Before his appointment as CAN General Secretary in 2012, he had held several positions in his church and was a regular speaker in Christian seminars/workshop, besides numerous international engagements.

After attaining a PhD Degree in the USA, he returned to Nigeria and was posted to take charge of the ECWA Headquarters Church, Jos from 1996 to 1999. Brimming with newly acquired knowledge and passion to deepen his pastoral calling, he was elected to serve for two terms of three years each as ECWA General Secretary, Jos Nigeria, from 1999 to May 2005. Asake’s footprints of six years as the ECWA General Secretary became reference points in so many reforms still acknowledged as major landmarks that are still remembered and appreciated by the church. Pastoral service for Dr Asake may not be within the plaudit a vast platform; he was also in love with service within smaller confinements. At the end of his duty tour as the General Secretary of ECWA, he disappeared from the limelight to be the Senior Pastor of the ECWA Gospel Church, No. 3 Apata Street, Jos, where he deployed his skills for expansion and development of the church from 2006 to 2008. Not yet done with his passion for pastoring, he was reposted to the ECWA Gospel 1, Tudun Wada Jos, as Senior Pastor where he served from 2009 – 2012.

The consummate preacher that was endowed with intellectual prowess in Bible exposition was a member of several boards that included the Joint ECWA Seminary Board of Governors (1984-86); ECWA Community Health Board (1984-1986); Board of Governors, ECWA Bible College, Kagoro (1984-86); Member, Nigeria Inter- Religious Council (NIREC) (1999-2005); Chairman, ECWA/ SIM Scholarship Board (2000-2005); Member, Plateau State Government, Peace and Reconciliation Committee (2002) and Elder of the Grand Prairie Bible Church, Dallas Texas, USA, (1993-1996).
He was also Chairman, Global Leadership Submit, Willow Creek Church USA (2009 until his demise); Chairman, Ministers Development Initiative (MDI), Jos Nigeria. 2009 until his death) and Board Member, Rafiki Children’s Home, Unguwar Rimi Bajju (2013 until his demise) His engagements were not only restricted to local organisations; he was a member of several global bodies that included the Biblical Institute for Leadership Development (BILD), Ames Iowa, USA; Go2Church Planting Ministries, Telford Pennsylvania, USA, among other global bodies.

His death in the early hours of Friday May 11, 2018 came amidst the trying period of killings of Christians in the North by armed bandits and security challenge in the country. His last public appearance was his press conference where he called on Federal Government to intervene in the killings of Christians and other Nigerians by criminal gangs.
The late CAN General Secretary was married to former Miss Tabitha Sanda on January 1, 1977. The marriage was blessed with four children, namely, Aminchi, Abasa, Linda and Anang. The family also adopted a adopted daughter, Alheri, including foster children, Priscilla, Blessing and Simon. Asake’s death has left a void that may be difficult to be filled both in public and private.
As the journey to his final interment commences on June 5, 2018 with a Service of Songs at the National Christian Centre in Abuja and to culminate with a funeral service in his honour on June 8, 2018 at the Kafanchan Township Stadium, may the death of Asake advance the cause of interfaith dialogue in our nation and unite the Nigerian Church against forces that seek to divide her.