“Preachers Will Not Always Be Right” — Femi Lazarus Speaks Out Amid Arome Osayi Backlash

Pastor Femi Lazarus has defended Apostle Arome Osayi following widespread criticism of the preacher over his recent comments about Nigeria’s spiritual purpose.

The controversy followed a sermon in which Osayi argued that Nigerians should not compare the country’s progress with nations such as China by focusing on industrial and technological achievements.

“The next time you hear somebody showing what the Chinese are doing, making engines and then showing what Nigerians are doing, we are praying. You don’t understand that nations have callings,” Osayi said.

“Our calling as a nation is revival. God wants to generate something from here that he will export to the nations of the world,” he added.

His comments have since attracted criticism from some Nigerians who questioned the emphasis on spiritual revival at a time when the country continues to face economic, technological and developmental challenges.

Responding to the backlash, Lazarus urged Christians to distinguish between disagreement and personal attacks, stressing that preachers can make mistakes and that context should be considered.

“We will not always agree. Preachers will not always be right. Context matters, and we must learn to extend grace always,” Lazarus said.

He described Osayi as a valuable figure within the Christian community and condemned the mockery directed at him over the sermon.

“Apostle Arome is ours. A gift to the body. That attack on him and mockery is unacceptable,” he said.

Lazarus maintained that Christians should be able to disagree with one another without crossing ethical boundaries or resorting to personal attacks.

“We can disagree while maintaining ethical boundaries,” he added.

He further suggested that the reaction to Osayi’s comments reflects a wider problem within the Christian community, where disagreements can sometimes become personal.

“Unfortunately, this is what we get when we in the body ourselves tear each other down. Apostle Arome is a gift; we can disagree honourably,” Lazarus concluded.