HOW I TRIED TO LURE NATHANIEL BASSEY WITH AN ENVELOPE, BUT HE GAVE ME AN UNEXPECTED ANSWER! Apostle Johnson Suleman Recounts.

In a remarkable account highlighting honour, loyalty, and commitment to spiritual covering, Apostle Johnson Suleman has shared an encounter he had with renowned Nigerian gospel minister Nathaniel Bassey, revealing the musician’s willingness to follow his spiritual father, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, for an entire month without expecting any financial reward.

Recounting the encounter, Apostle Suleman explained that it happened during a flight when he and Reverend Fidelis met Nathaniel Bassey while they were preparing for a convention in June. According to him, Nathaniel Bassey approached them excitedly and expressed his desire to attend their programme.

He recalled that the gospel minister told him he wanted to come for the programme, explaining that his spiritual father would also be having a programme and that he intended to follow him for one month. Surprised by the arrangement, Apostle Suleman asked whether Nathaniel Bassey was going as a guest artist.

However, the singer’s response reportedly left him amazed. Nathaniel explained that he was not going as a guest artist but simply wanted to accompany his spiritual father wherever he went, in case he needed him to sing or provide backup vocals.

Apostle Suleman further narrated that he decided to test the singer’s intentions by asking him whether he knew what he would be given if he came for the programme.

But Nathaniel Bassey’s response was unexpected.

“Sir, it is not important. My covering is more than envelope,” he reportedly replied.

Apostle Suleman said he was surprised by the response and questioned whether Nathaniel was really going as a singer or simply as someone committed to serving his spiritual father. The gospel minister reportedly maintained that he was not interested in being recognised as a guest artist. He simply wanted to follow his father because of the relationship and honour he had for him.

“He said, ‘Sir, I don’t have to be a guest; he is my father,’” Apostle Suleman recounted.

He further explained that Nathaniel Bassey had plans to accompany Pastor E.A. Adeboye on his ministry engagements, including trips to America and Canada. According to Apostle Suleman, the singer was so committed to following his spiritual father that he intended to arrange his own programme around Pastor Adeboye’s schedule, ensuring that he could attend to his own engagements whenever his father was resting.

Apostle Suleman said he was particularly struck by the fact that Nathaniel Bassey was willing to spend an entire month following his spiritual father, not because he had been invited as a guest minister or was expecting an honorarium, but simply because he wanted to be available to serve. The account offers a glimpse into the relationship between Nathaniel Bassey and Pastor E.A. Adeboye, highlighting the singer’s emphasis on honouring and staying close to his spiritual father beyond the privileges that may come with being a recognised gospel minister.