LAGOS – While a thick, “cowardly silence” hangs over many of Nigeria’s most prominent pulpits, Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church has once again found his roar, taking aim at the “demonic creatures” in power who are making life a living hell for the average Nigerian.
The fiery cleric is being singled out for praise by social media commentators and activists alike, who are tired of watching influential pastors play it safe while the nation groans under the weight of institutional decay and political high-handedness.
The Lion in the Room
“In the midst of the conspicuous, cowardly silence of many pastors… we must give credit where it’s due,” noted the popular commentator @OurFavOnlineDoc. “Bishop Oyedepo spoke up. And he has spoken up for years.”
For many Nigerians, Oyedepo’s refusal to “kneel at the altar of the state” stands in sharp contrast to other high-profile religious leaders who have gone quiet as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the ruling class are accused of “lawlessness and impunity.”
A Spiritual War Against “Criminal Goons”
The Bishop’s intervention comes at a boiling point for the country. From the ADC’s Bolaji Abdullahi labeling INEC’s recent moves as “criminal and contemptuous,” to the mass defection of APC loyalists in Jigawa who are fleeing what they call an “illegal” political environment, the narrative of a government gone rogue is gaining steam.
Critics of the administration have long alleged that “criminal goons” are prowling the political landscape, intimidating opposition leaders and bullying governors into “unholy alliances” ahead of 2027. By framing the current struggle as a battle against “demonic oppression,” Oyedepo has provided a spiritual backbone to those who feel the democratic space is being suffocated.
The Cost of Silence
As the 2027 chess pieces are moved across the board, the silence of the wider clergy has become a point of bitter contention. Many Nigerians feel that the “spiritual fathers” of the nation have abandoned their flocks to the wolves of inflation, insecurity, and political manipulation.
Oyedepo’s consistent defiance is increasingly seen as the last line of moral defense. While others prepare their “homes in exile” or hide behind neutral prayers, the Bishop’s latest salvo serves as a reminder that some voices simply refuse to be silenced by the corridors of power.
