Founder of Streams of Joy Church and convener of the NSPPD prayer platform, Pastor Jerry Eze, has found himself at the centre of controversy after testimony by Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo during a church service.
In a video that went viral on Sunday, Okpebholo publicly
thanked God for his victory in the Edo State governorship election, attributing
his success to divine intervention.
During the testimony, the session moderator stated that God
often uses “foolish things” to demonstrate His sovereignty, further emphasising
the governor’s claim of divine favour in his electoral triumph.
The testimony quickly stirred mixed reactions online, with many Nigerians expressing outrage. Critics accused Eze of desecrating the pulpit and allowing what they perceived as a mockery of God. Some felt that the focus on a political figure’s election win detracted from the spiritual purpose of the church service and undermined the sanctity of the worship environment.
While some defended the governor’s remarks as a legitimate
expression of faith and gratitude, others questioned the appropriateness of
such a testimony in a church setting, particularly given the political context.
Ose Anenih, son of former Minister of Works Tony Anenih,
criticised the pastor for celebrating what he called societal perversions,
writing on X (formerly Twitter) with the username #ose-anenih, said, “God will
not be mocked, #RealJerryEze There was a time when mighty men of God would
speak truth to power. Today, pastors used their putrefying platforms to
celebrate society’s perversions.
“A rigged election is what your god is using to prove his
divinity? God will not be mocked, Pastor Jerry.”
Peaceful Revolution who tweets anonymously as #buhilz56
questioned the appropriateness of the testimony, writing, “#RealJerryEze this
is not supposed to be ooo. On your pulpit we are having such testimonies from
what is a common knowledge of what happened in Edo State.
“When I say there are specific pastors I can never listen
to, they would claim pride and that used to affect me until sometimes in the
past. I no longer bother anyway, I listen to very preachers these days because
I know many others are mere hustlers trying to survive, Adewale who identifies
as #Wale_A3 stated.
Chuks. E who writes as #messersEze lamented the reaction of
the congregation, saying, “Imagine the congregation shouting at the top of
their voices in celebration for this. For them, this God is so good. It is okay
o. We deserve what has befallen us as a people.”
Akongwale Patrick, who tweets as #unimagbebia, pointed to
concerns about the commercialization of Christianity and wrote, “When would
Christianity learn from Islam? Islam don’t close her doors to them but they
don’t give them room to rinse their sins & ascribe their sham victories to
Allah. Christianity as practiced in Nigeria, can’t take her eyes off money.
£ who writes as #goodthangs_ defended Pastor Jerry noting
that he cannot control who comes forward to testify saying, “Pastor Jerry did
not tell the rigged in governor to come out n testify. he came out by himself.
who is Pastor Jerry not to allow him? this is the same nonsense betta edu did.
it’s irritating, but what can PJ do?”
Therim Tanko, who identifies as #TherimT56364 said, “If God
does not want him to be there, no amount of rigging will put him there. Go and
read the Bible very carefully. God does not think like a man!.”
Foreigner who tweets annonymously as #SmartSyn said, “What
would you rather have them do, pursue him from their premises, in this lawless
Nigeria so they would use the state power on his church. He did what he has to
do, in the end, na God get judgement.”
Mekus (èkún) who tweets as #coly_emeks wrote, “But what
should he have done ? Banish him from the church because he’s a politician? The
church is for God and not Pastor J. Nigerians are too spontaneous in
reactions.”
Daprofet who identifies as #FYNEGUY2010 added, “A rigged
election is subjective. You were an interested party in the election. Hence,
your bias could inform this submission.”
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