Senior Pastor of Daystar Christian Centre, Sam Adeyemi, has criticised Nigeria’s political class, stating that many leaders have lost touch with the realities of poverty and the struggles faced by ordinary citizens.
Pastor Adeyemi expressed concern over the lack of empathy and compassion among those in power, saying their obsession with retaining political office has distracted them from governance.
“Some of our leaders, it is even obvious from the way they speak, that they have lost touch with the reality of the poor. They have no empathy, no compassion,” Adeyemi said.
He added that the fear of losing power is a key driver behind the frequent defections between political parties, as politicians prioritise survival and influence over service.
“Some of them are being threatened that they would lose their next election, that is why they are defecting. So their own survival is being threatened,” he explained.
Political Godfathers Undermining Democracy
Adeyemi further lamented the influence of political godfathers, asserting that Nigeria’s democratic process has been hijacked by powerful individuals who control the political space from behind the scenes.
“I wish we had the perfect scenario that it is the citizens that actually elected people, but we have seen over the years the power of the godfathers in our politics. They have built their influence over many years.”
The pastor acknowledged the intelligence and education of many in leadership but pointed out that the corruptive nature of the political system often transforms them into unrecognisable versions of themselves.
“These are educated people, these are highly intelligent people, some of our best. It is just that in the process of wanting to succeed in this Nigeria, they bent here and bent there and by the time they arrive at the top, they have become crooked.”
Adeyemi’s remarks come amid growing public frustration over worsening poverty, insecurity, and political instability in the country.
