Afrobeats musician Spyro has openly criticised prominent spiritual leaders in Nigeria, including Pastor Enoch Adeboye and Bishop David Oyedepo, for their silence on the worsening insecurity across the country. In an emotional video shared on his Instagram page on May 26, the singer expressed frustration that churches and mosques continue to conduct regular sermons without addressing the alarming state of the nation.
Spyro Calls Out Religious Leaders Over Silence
Spyro, whose real name is Oludipe Oluwasanmi David, said he never imagined he would have to call out respected pastors and clerics, but the situation has become unbearable. He noted that the silence of religious leaders while citizens face violence, fear, and economic stress is deeply troubling.
"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," Spyro said.
The singer revealed that he could not bring himself to attend church because sermons were being delivered without reference to the ongoing crisis. According to him, any church or mosque that fails to speak about the insecurity and the government's responsibility is failing the people.
"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 added.
Spyro Questions Where Spiritual Leaders Are
Spyro emphasised that the situation calls for a state of emergency, questioning why schools and normal activities continue despite the dangers. He expressed disappointment that only a few voices from the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, like Pastor Emmanuel Iren, had spoken, while influential figures like Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Bishop David Oyedepo, Pastor W.F. Kumuyi, Pastor Bolaji, and Pastor Jerry Eze remained silent.
The singer also challenged Muslim clerics, asking where the sheikhs and alfas stand on the matter. "Earlier today I saw a video from PFN and it was 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 Kumuyi in this? Where is Pastor Bolaji 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?" Spyro lamented.
Spyro Urges Celebrities to Speak Up
The singer lamented that the country is on the verge of collapse, citing incidents of beheadings, abductions, and violence against children in Oyo state and other places. He reminded religious leaders that prophets in the Bible were raised to confront oppressive systems and deliver God's people, questioning why such leadership is absent today.
"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?" Spyro said.
He concluded by urging celebrities and influential figures to speak up, insisting that silence is no longer acceptable as lives are being lost daily.
