Popular Nigerian activist, Verydarkman, has replied to Pastor David Ibiyeomie after the pastor warned bloggers to stop posting anything about him or his church.
Earlier this week, Pastor Ibiyeomie said he would arrest and jail anyone who shares news about him or his ministry. His comments caused a stir online, as many people felt he was trying to stop freedom of speech.
In a video reply, Verydarkman criticized the pastor for trying to scare people into silence. He said it’s wrong for a religious leader to threaten people just for sharing opinions or news online.
Verydarkman made it clear that he would not be quiet and challenged the pastor to try arresting someone simply for talking about him on social media.
He also reminded Pastor Ibiyeomie that people have the right to speak freely, especially when they are not spreading lies but simply sharing news.
This clash between a well-known pastor and an outspoken activist has sparked a larger conversation about freedom of expression in Nigeria, especially on social media.
The activist said in part:
“I know you travel around the world, have you seen anybody using police to lock up people? That means you are using your influence now to say that you can use the police to oppress. You can’t try this in other countries becuase those police would do their investigations. You cannot command police to do anything whether you are influential or not. That is why I say even the pastors follow spoil the country, but people don’t understand what I was saying. Nobody dey fear you. Who are you that we will fear, are you not a human being?”
Check out reactions that followed:
@Abasiono_Ek said: “This stup!dity got into the church too
As the leaders brag and are above the law so are the pastors too now
Wetin we never see.
I like that phrase “to liberate a nation we have to drop respect”
E make sense!.”
@TVNDEY wrote: “Na people wey dey call them men of God I blame . These people are worse in character and everything, na scriptures them dey take cover up”
@olumidebravo3 said: “We have more churches than cinemas
More churches than schools
More churches than sport centres
More churches than vocational centre
More churches than hospitals
More churches than recreational centres
Not until we begin to see the fraud, we shall never be free”
