Juliana Olayode defends clerics criticised over insecurity silence

Actress Juliana Olayode has defended Nigerian clergymen facing criticism over their ‘silence’ on the country’s insecurity

In a series of Instagram posts, Olayode said she expected backlash for her stance.

While agreeing that pastors, as well as imams, sheikhs, and other influential figures, should speak up, she argued that pastors are not activists.

The actress explained that pastors operate under divine authority and carry spiritual responsibility before God.

She noted that in scripture, God’s servants did not always respond to national crises with public statements.

She wrote;

“I know I might get dragged for saying this and not to deviate from the issue at hand, but I don’t know if it’s just my Tiktok and Instagram algorithm, I’ve been seeing a lot of videos of people calling out pastors. There’s something I think we should also take into consideration.

“Yes, I believe pastors should speak up more. So should Imams, Sheikhs, and everyone with a voice and influence. But we should not automatically assume that those who are not speaking publicly on social media are doing nothing or are unconcerned about what is happening in the country. Not all meaningful action is visible online.

Pastors are not activists, though they certainly can speak on political and societal issues when they feel led to do so. I understand that some people have no regard for pastors. We have seen and heard painful stories of what some have done in the name of God. But, while false pastors exist, so do genuine ones, men and womén who serve faithfully, walk in integrity and carry their spiritual responsibility with sincerity.

“Yes, pastors are human beings like the rest of us, but they are under divine authority and also carry a spiritual responsibility before God. Throughout the scriptures, God’s servants didn’t always respond to national crises with public statements. Sometimes their assignment was to pray, intercede, offer counsel, and personally engage those in authority as God directed”.