Supporters of Peter Obi have resumed their attack on a Christian cleric, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, over his message urging the people to “move on” from past grievances a day before the presidential tribunal delivers its judgement on the petition filed by Obi and Atiku challenging President Tinubu’s victory.
Although the cleric’s message centred on biblical characters and broadly discouraged excessive obsession on pain caused by events from the past, Obi’s supporters, who are infamous for their intimidation and bullying, interpreted it as a cryptic message to move on from the election and embrace the reality of their loss.
Consequently, they have rained insults on the cleric, describing him as a “fake pastor” in bed with political actors. Others insisted his “prophecies” were politically-motivated while urging members of his church to halt attendance.
The recent attack on Adefarasin follows previous criticisms of him over his refusal to endorse Peter Obi who, in a leaked phone call with a controversial Bishop, proclaimed himself a “Christian candidate” as part of his reported attempt to exploit the country’s religious fault line during the election.
Other clerics such as Pastor William Kumuyi of the Deeper Life Bible Church have endured the same fate for expressing support for the administration, particularly in light of overwhelming evidence that President Bola Tinubu won the election and is sincere about his promise to engender sustainable economic growth.
The targeting of pastors opposed to Obi’s attempt to drag the church into partisan politics has raised questions about the integrity of the former Anambra Governor and his commitment to the preservation of Nigeria’s unity.
Critics have accused him of breeding and unleashing in the country a group of subversive elements insistent on torching the country because Obi was rejected at the polls.