For several weeks now, the founder and Spiritual Head of Celica Church of Christ Worldwide, Reverend Emmanuel Adetunji Adeonigbagbe, has been very disturbed about the economic and insecurity challenges confronting the nation. He has repeatedly raised concerns about the bleak and gloomy future of the Nigerian state. And his fears and concerns are valid. Nigeria, at the moment, appears to be dangling at the very edge of the precipice, waiting to implode. What with the frightening scale of kidnappings and killings taking place every passing minute simultaneously in different parts of the country. As a father and Spiritual leader, his apprehension is understandable, hence he is demanding more proactive action from the government and spiritual leaders like himself.
In this very comprehensive and insightful interview with Olukunle Abimbola, Reverend Adeonigbagbe warns that should things remain this way, then our leaders and the nation should be prepared for a massive spiritual revolution that will come with dire consequences. The Prime Citizens brings you the very revealing interview, enjoy.
What is your view on
the current state of the nation?
Nigeria stands at a critical juncture. We are a nation richly endowed with human and natural resources, yet we are grappling with severe economic hardship, widespread insecurity, and a deep crisis of trust between the Government and the governed. The removal of fuel subsidies, though economically defensible on paper, has unleashed unprecedented suffering upon the masses. Inflation is biting hard, and businesses and households are feeling the heat. We are weighed down by unresolved problems and a paralysis of leadership.
However, as a man of God, I speak from a place of prophecy and prayer. The Lord has been sending warnings to the leadership of Nigeria since 1992, yet successive leaders, past and present, have failed to heed them or take the necessary action. The spiritual messages and prophecies are in the public domain. Let me state the word for this year: the Lord says we should pray against a grave crisis in Nigeria. Proverbially, Nigeria was likened to a man who is hunchbacked both at the front and the back, and who is now given a load to bear upon his head. How then shall he move forward? The leaders of the country will be confounded, for they cannot find solutions to the myriad problems confronting the nation. Furthermore, the Lord declared that Nigeria’s leaders are full of drama and deception. This is likened to a weaker wrestler paying the stronger opponent to allow him to win the contest. But is that truly victory? That is the essence of their approach to insecurity.
Many deep secrets shall be exposed, for this is a year of revelation and reckoning, says the Lord. Is this not what we are already witnessing? The insecurity we have endured for over a decade arose from the disobedience of past rulers to divine directives. They trusted in their own power and wisdom and did not depend on God. The Nigerian nation has become entangled by various occult groups that now direct its affairs at will.
For more than two decades the Lord has told me that a revolution shall come to Nigeria, not by human hands, but spiritually by the mighty hand of the Lord. An invisible hand shall move through the land to salvage the country and liberate its citizens. Nigeria and her people shall be freed from the grip of slave drivers. Evil thrones and principalities shall be destroyed by the invisible hand of the Lord.
For Nigeria to move forward, we must return to godliness, righteousness, justice, and true federalism. The present situation demands urgent national dialogue and decisive action, not mere political manoeuvring. Nigeria needs divine intervention coupled with competent leadership to overcome these challenges.
Several Nigerians
believe the current administration has failed the people. Do you agree?
As a religious leader, I must speak the truth. I speak not as a politician, but as a watchman. The truth is that “human decisions will, more often than not, end in grievous failure” when leaders do not acknowledge the power of God. The fundamental tragedy of Nigeria is that the foundation is faulty, and the cracks are now manifesting.
The expectations of many citizens, though not all, were high when this administration took office, yet the reality on the ground has been painful for millions. Hunger knows no party loyalty. When a bag of rice becomes a luxury, when families can no longer afford basic healthcare, when graduates roam the streets without hope, and when citizens are kidnapped and slaughtered like animals, then we must ask hard questions.
Has this administration met the expectations of the suffering masses? Honestly, the answer is a resounding No. Their policies appear to favour the elite, whilst the poor bear the burden. As religious leaders, we are called to be the conscience of the nation. I appeal to the President and his team to have mercy on the people. Governance is about service, not merely statistics.
Until we return to God and seek divine guidance, policies will continue to wound rather than heal.
To what extent have
gospel ministers in government been righteous in their dealings?
This is a most sensitive question. The Bible says, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice.” But can we truly say the people are rejoicing? Some ministers of the gospel who have accepted political appointments have compromised their prophetic voice. They have become mouthpieces for the Government rather than mouthpieces for God.
Nevertheless, there remain a few who still uphold their integrity. But the majority? They have traded their birthright for a plate of porridge. The problem is that many ministers have abandoned the watchman’s mandate. Instead of standing as watchmen on the walls, they have become errand-runners for politicians. A true man of God must be the voice of the voiceless, not a defender of poor policies. If you cannot speak truth to power, then resign from the pulpit or resign from office. You cannot serve two masters.
Would Nigerian Christian women do better in politics and governance than their male counterparts?
Governance and pulpit ministry are distinct callings, yet the same principle applies: leadership must be rooted in the fear of God, not in gender. What Nigeria requires are leaders, male or female, who will lead not as overlords but as shepherds, and ensure that the nation’s resources serve the people, not private ambition.
If a woman is called by God and walks in humility, sacrifice, and integrity as exemplified by Christ, she can be an instrument of deliverance. The issue is righteousness and godliness, not gender.
Is the Government
doing enough to end insecurity in Nigeria?
With all due respect, the answer is no. How many more communities must be wiped out before we see decisive action? Bandits operate with impunity across the nation. Kidnappers have turned our highways into death traps. Farmers can no longer go to their farms, and children and teachers are being abducted from schools.
Our security agencies are underfunded, ill-equipped, and in some instances, compromised. What we see is reactive governance: condemnation after attacks and promises after massacres. Consider what has happened in Oyo, Kwara, Plateau, Benue, and Borno. This should cause great alarm, for Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gunpowder that could explode at any moment unless the Government takes proactive steps now.
We require proactive intelligence, community policing, inter-agency collaboration, and genuine political will. The President must take absolute charge of the security of this nation and protect the lives and property of citizens. Nigerians deserve to sleep with both eyes closed. As religious leaders, we will continue to pray for the country, but faith without works is dead. Government at all levels must do its part.
What is your take on
the invasion, killings, and abductions in churches?
This is heart-rending. When armed men storm the house of God and slaughter worshippers, it reveals that something is fundamentally broken in our society. Churches are no longer sanctuaries; they have become targets. This is spiritual warfare manifesting in the physical realm, yet it is also a failure of governance, intelligence, and security.
The Government must protect places of worship, both churches and mosques alike. But beyond that, the Church must awaken. We must invest in security infrastructure, train ushers to detect threats, and work closely with security agencies. The gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church. There shall be victory at last, for this is the Lord’s battle.
How can Nigerian
pastors ensure Christian education is made compulsory in schools and churches
to check moral decadence?
Moral decadence is a pandemic more devastating than COVID-19 or Ebola. Our children are exposed to perversion through smartphones, social media, and even some school curricula. The Church must take education seriously.
First, every church should run a vibrant Sunday School and youth ministry,not merely for dancing and entertainment, but for doctrinal teaching, character formation, and vocational training.
Second, we must advocate for Christian Religious Knowledge to be strengthened in public schools, not diluted. Pastors should also partner with schools, offer to teach moral instruction, and establish affordable Christian schools within their communities. If we do not shape the minds of our children, the world will shape them for us. The future of Nigeria depends on the kind of children we raise today.
Many ministers have
abandoned salvation messages for the pursuit of lucre. What is your take?
That is the tragedy of our time, and it grieves my spirit. The pulpit has become a marketplace. We now have “CEO Pastors” who are more concerned with riches, private jets, luxury cars, and political and business connections than with the salvation of souls. They preach prosperity without righteousness, grace without repentance, and miracles without character. They have turned the house of prayer into a den of thieves.
But the Bible declares that judgment shall begin in the house of God. These ministers are storing up wrath for themselves. Scripture warns of false prophets who exploit the flock for gain. To my fellow ministers: remember why you were called. It was not to be celebrated by men, but to reconcile souls to Christ. Repent, before it is too late. The Church in Nigeria needs a reformation — a return to the old paths of holiness, sacrifice, and sound doctrine.
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