Nigerian Afrobeats singer, Oludipe Oluwasanmi David, professionally known as Spyro, has strongly criticized influential religious leaders in Nigeria, including Pastor Adejare Adeboye and Bishop David Oyedepo, for their silence on the country’s worsening insecurity crisis.
During an emotional social media broadcast, the artist stated that any church or mosque that continues to preach standard messages without speaking up for the people or challenging the government is fundamentally wrong.
Spyro argued that silence in the face of national tragedy amounts to being “part of the system” and siding with the oppressors.
Spyro, who is known for openly expressing his Christian faith, expressed deep trauma over recurring incidents of violence, public beheadings, and abducted children, stating that the situation has become completely unbearable.
He said: “I never ever thought that a day like this would come, that I’ll be calling out the people that I respect so much.
“But at this point, water don pass garri, the happenings in this country are sickening, exhausting, stressful.”
The singer also said that religious institutions have a responsibility to speak up for the masses and hold authorities accountable during national crises.
He stated that any church or mosque failing to address the ongoing insecurity is failing its followers.
Spyro added: “Any church that is preaching any message that is different from what is happening in this country and speaking up for the people and speaking to the government, you are wrong.
“Any mosque right now that is speaking anything different from what is happening in this country right now, you are wrong.”
He noted that while a few figures within the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) have publicly addressed the situation, highly influential leaders remain silent.
He specifically questioned the absence of statements from the nation’s most prominent Christian and Islamic clerics.
He added: “Earlier today, I saw a video from PFN, and I think it was Pastor Fola Davies, and the only known face I saw there was Pastor Iren.
“Where is Pastor Adeboye in all of this? Where is David Oyedepo in all of this? Where is Pastor (William) Kumuyi in this? Where is Pastor Bolaji (Idowu) in this? Where is Jerry Eze in this?
“And for the Muslims, where are your sheikhs? What are they saying? Where are the alfas? What are they saying?”
Reacting to the recent tragic events, including abductions and killings in Oyo State and other parts of the country, Spyro reminded religious leaders of the role of spiritual guides who confronted oppressive systems to protect the people.
He said: “Even the Bible says the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violence taketh it by force. Prophets were raised to go speak to the system, speak to the kings, and warn them. Is it that God doesn’t care about his people again? Is it that God is no longer speaking?”
