The Senior Pastor of Light Nation Church, Pastor Femi Lazarus has condemned the triumphant entry of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu into Benue state.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu visited Benue State yesterday after the massacre of citizens by suspected herdsmen, with indigenes lining on the streets to celebrate the President’s arrival.
The popular clearly known for his vocality on public affairs and family values blamed poverty for the mobilization of bereaved citizens for Tinubu’s reception by the State Government saying that “poverty is a weapon”.
He also condemned the federal and state governments over their silence and inaction in the past, a development he said gave impetus to the recent massacre in Benue State, where over 200 people were alleged to be murdered, including women and children, were brutally slaughtered.
Speaking during a passionate public address, the pastor warned that the tragedy in Benue is a sign that poverty is being weaponized by those in power to keep citizens controllable.
Pastor Femi Lazarus is a respected Nigerian pastor, teacher, and advocate for social justice. Known for his bold sermons and unapologetic truth-telling, he has earned a reputation as a voice for the oppressed. Through his ministry, he regularly speaks out against societal injustices, encouraging the youth to rise, demand accountability, and live purposefully.
In his address, he revealed that what happened in Benue is not just a regional tragedy but a warning for the entire nation. “It is a gradual slope,” he said, “we keep adjusting, tolerating evil, and normalizing bloodshed.” He lamented the indifference of the government, adding that the people who should be demanding justice are instead organizing parades to welcome the same leaders who failed to protect their lives.
He went further to describe poverty as a man-made, strategic weapon used to manipulate the masses. “Anywhere you see poverty, someone is holding the trigger,” he declared. “Why would people who just lost 200 of their brothers and sisters gather at the airport to hail the same government? It is because they depend on them financially for the survival of their children”. Pastor Femi challenged citizens to see through this manipulation, insisting that poverty is not natural but deliberately used to strip people of ambition and keep them dependent.
During a fervent prayer, he cried out: “Father, we are not giving them room for repentance. Judge them. Avenge the blood that has been spilled in Benue. Feed them with their children’s blood on the floor as if slaughtered rams.” He questioned why a nation would lose 200 citizens overnight without a war, and yet those responsible would continue to live freely. “In any normal country, those behind such a tragedy wouldn’t survive 24 hours,” he said.
Also, he urged the Nigerian youth to rise and reject the system that thrives on their silence. “Any nation that got better is because the people rose to build it,” he stated. He criticized society’s distraction with music, comedy, fashion, and superficial entertainment while real issues go unaddressed. He warned that Africa is being pushed back into darkness, as leaders exploit two generations of youth, those who are asleep and those who are buyable.
He ended with a sobering call: “Start bridging the gap by ourselves. Not church leaders flaunting wealth while people die. Until we understand that poverty is a weapon, the powerful will remain in power, and the people will remain in pain.”
