Apostle Arome Osayi has responded to the controversy surrounding a viral video in which he described Nigeria as a “revival and prayer country.”
The 22-second clip circulated widely across social media, prompting reactions from Nigerians and questions from some viewers about the preacher’s statement.
Addressing the controversy, Arome argued that the brief footage being shared online does not capture the full context of what he was discussing at the time.
The preacher explained that statements made during extended teachings or conversations should be understood within the circumstances and broader message in which they were delivered.
He noted that separating a short statement from the discussion surrounding it could alter how the speaker’s intended message is perceived.
Arome admits ministers can make mistakes
While responding to the criticism, Arome acknowledged that ministers, like other people, are capable of making mistakes.
He stressed that he does not regard himself as perfect or beyond correction, noting that acknowledging human imperfections is different from abandoning the standards expected in ministry.
“We are not saying that we don’t make mistakes sometimes, because I’m not saying that I’m a living perfect master. I’m the best thing that happened. No,” he said.
However, he maintained that there are standards that should guide the communication of scripture, particularly when ministers are presenting what they believe to be the Word of God.
“But a scripture has a minimum standard of what is acceptable ministry in the service delivery of the Word, the mind of God, through the platform of scriptures. There’s a minimum requirement,” he added.
Cleric speaks on context of viral clip
A significant part of Arome’s response focused on what he described as the removal of statements from their original context.
He explained that an individual statement may be part of a much broader explanation and should therefore be considered alongside the points made before and after it.
The preacher particularly criticised bloggers whom he accused of selecting portions of his statements and presenting them without the surrounding context.
“Every truth exists in a context. So they take a window that is dissociated from its context and try to present me,” he said.
Speaking specifically about the viral footage, Arome insisted that the 22-second clip should not be treated as a complete representation of his message.
According to him, the statement in the circulated video was connected to a broader discussion that was not included in the shortened version.
“So that 22 seconds thing you cut out was standing on a context, and it cannot stand alone,” he added.
Arome speaks on publicity generated by controversy
Beyond addressing the criticism, Arome also reflected on the attention the controversy has brought to him and his ministry.
He claimed that efforts by some individuals to silence or discredit him had instead generated significant publicity for his work and increased his visibility among Nigerians.
The cleric suggested that the level of exposure resulting from the controversy would have cost a substantial amount if obtained through conventional publicity.
“The publicity I’ve had in Nigeria came from people that felt they wanted to shut me up. They gave me the publicity I cannot pay for because I’m approved unto God,” he said.
AB