Social media activist, VeryDarkMan, has accused politicians of using religion to influence Nigerians, questioning why Pastor Ezekiel Dachomo, who previously criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration over insecurity, is now urging people to pray for the President.
VDM raised the question in a video, recalling Dachomo’s past criticism of Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima over allegations that they wanted to Islamise Nigeria.
“How did Reverend/Pastor Ezekiel Dachomo move from criticising Tinubu to campaigning for Tinubu? How he moved from Vice President Shettima and Tinubu wanting to Islamise Nigeria to praying for Tinubu’s administration? What changed?” he asked.
VDM said Dachomo had previously spoken out over insecurity in Plateau State, criticised the government and called for intervention from the United States, making his latest appeal for prayers for Tinubu surprising to him.
Although he acknowledged that praying for political leaders was not wrong, VDM questioned what might have prompted the cleric’s change in tone.
“It is not a bad thing to pray for your leaders, but there’s something off,” he said.
He further alleged that the government could have reached out to Dachomo, claiming that politicians use religious institutions to influence public opinion.
“Religion is a tool in the hands of the politician,” VDM said, arguing that religious messaging could make Nigerians believe help was coming instead of holding those in power accountable.
‘Politicians use religion to trap your mind’ — VDM questions Pastor Dachomo’s shift on Tinubu