Popular Nigerian activist Verydarkman has called out Pastor David Ibiyeomie for threatening to arrest bloggers who report on him or his church.
The leader of Salvation Ministries had earlier issued a stern warning during a church service, cautioning bloggers and media outlets to steer clear of publishing content about him.
The pastor’s warning quickly sparked reactions across social media.
Many criticized his approach, describing it as an attempt to silence free speech.
Responding to the situation, Verydarkman took to social media to address the issue.
He accused the pastor of trying to use the police as a tool to suppress online expression.
In his words, “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.”
He further emphasized that such actions would not be tolerated in more developed countries. “You can’t try this in other countries because those police would do their investigations,” he said.
Verydarkman did not hold back in expressing his frustration.
He said, “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?”
This reaction has generated more discussions around the growing tension between religious leaders and free speech advocates in Nigeria.
Social media users have also shared their opinions on the matter.
One user, @Abasiono_Ek, stated, “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!”
Another user, @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.”
Meanwhile, discussions continue on how religious and public figures should handle criticism in the digital age.
