Popular Nigerian social media commentator, VeryDarkMan, has taken a firm stance against Pastor David Ibiyeomie following the pastor’s recent warning to bloggers and media outlets who report on him or his church.
In a trending video, the Salvation Ministries founder had issued a stern warning, insisting that no one should post anything about him online, whether favorable or not. His statement sparked significant public reaction, with many accusing the pastor of attempting to silence press freedom through intimidation.
Reacting via a video on Tuesday, VeryDarkMan accused Pastor Ibiyeomie of using his influence to oppress others, especially by threatening to involve the police over online commentary.
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“With all due respect, sir, you travel to different countries—have you ever seen anyone boast about using the police to suppress people?” he said. “Saying you’ll arrest people because they talk about you online only proves you’re misusing your influence.”
He argued that such an approach would never work in other parts of the world where the police follow due process. “You can’t do this abroad because the police there conduct proper investigations. You can’t just command them, no matter your status,” he added.
According to VeryDarkMan, this kind of misuse of power is part of what is wrong with Nigeria. “This is why I’ve said that even some pastors have contributed to the country’s problems, but people don’t want to hear it,” he said.
He went on to challenge the pastor directly, saying, “If you try to lock someone up for simply talking, we’ll not back down. We’ll stand in front of your church until the person is released. Nobody is afraid of you.”
The activist further questioned Pastor Ibiyeomie’s Christian values, saying his actions contradict the teachings of Christ. “It’s clear you’re not Christ-like. You’re not saying what Jesus would say, or doing what He would do. That alone disqualifies you from being called a true pastor.”
He emphasized the right of every citizen to express their opinion as long as it doesn’t involve false accusations. “There’s freedom of expression. As long as no one is lying about you or defaming you, people have the right to speak,” he said.
VeryDarkMan concluded by stating his willingness to continue voicing his thoughts, no matter the backlash. “This is my fair comment. I’m not afraid. I’m from the Niger Delta too. If you try anything, you’ll learn—one way or another.”
His response has fueled further debate on the role of religious leaders in civil society, and the boundaries between public criticism and abuse of authority.
