By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Pastor Wale Adefarasin |
LAGOS, Nigeria – In a powerful and thought-provoking sermon, prominent Nigerian Pastor Wale Adefarasin has questioned the motives behind a sudden surge of international concern over the plight of Christians in Nigeria, suggesting the nation's burgeoning economic clout—including one of the world's largest oil refineries—may be the real catalyst.
The cleric's remarks challenge the prevailing narrative of religious genocide and call for a more nuanced understanding of Nigeria's complex security crisis.
Speaking from the pulpit, Pastor Adefarasin pushed back against what he described as a recent, intense focus from Western nations and figures, including former U.S. President Donald Trump. He emphasized that the insecurity plaguing the nation is a deep-rooted issue that affects all Nigerians, irrespective of their faith.
“It’s nothing new. It doesn’t amount to genocide,” Pastor Adefarasin stated, directly countering a term often used in international circles. He pointed to decades of violent conflicts in regions like Southern Kaduna and Plateau State as evidence that the problem is long-standing and not confined to one religious group.
He further illustrated the complexity of the violence by referencing international triggers, such as the defacing of an image of the Prophet Muhammad in France, which he said subsequently led to retaliatory attacks on Christians within Nigeria.
The core of Pastor Adefarasin's sermon centered on the timing and potential ulterior motives behind the global attention. He pointed directly to Nigeria's growing strategic and economic assets as a possible reason for the heightened interest.
“Is it because we now have one of the largest refineries in the world, or because of the 21st-century minerals in our land used for nuclear power and electric vehicles?” he asked the congregation. “Are these the reasons our friends are threatening to invade our country to defend Nigerian Christians?”
His comments directly reference the recently commissioned Dangote Refinery, a massive project that positions Nigeria as a major player in the global energy market. Additionally, Nigeria is rich in critical minerals like lithium, essential for manufacturing electric vehicle batteries and other green technologies.
Pastor Adefarasin concluded by urging Nigerians to be vigilant and to critically analyze the intentions behind any proposed international interventions. He stressed that the nation's security challenges require a homegrown solution that unites all citizens.
He reinforced that the violence is a national tragedy affecting Muslims and Christians alike, ending his message with a poignant call for peace: “Selam,” using the word for "peace" in multiple languages.