28/11/2025
The Weight of Truth on an Elder
The recent conversation around Reverend Isaac Omolenwa has opened up an uncomfortable truth about the Nigerian church landscape. Whenever someone dares to speak boldly about the weaknesses in the Body—whether it’s immorality, the love of money, worldly compromise, or the general decay we see—that person automatically becomes a threat.
Reverend Isaac is an old man. A father. A voice that has been consistent for decades. Whether people like his style or not, one thing is certain: he confronts the things many others would rather avoid. And voices like that are never popular.
He recently shared how he has been sidelined, blacklisted, and shut out by certain circles — even by ministers who once invited him and later cancelled without explanation. He discussed the financial consequences of these incidents and the emotional burden of facing hostility for merely exposing the truth.
The moment he said it, reactions came quickly. Apostle Johnson Suleman in particular fired back publicly. He questioned the figures, dismissed the experience, and strongly criticized the man. But this is where the irony begins. Apostle Suleman once said publicly, “We do not correct Fathers in the Lord.” Yet now he is not only correcting an elder but also doing so harshly. Suleman also said that while it's fine to expose corrupt politicians, the Church's filth should be kept secret. How has his intervention helped the Nigerian Church? It's no surprise that the Church has become a decaying, rotting place that tries to excuse sin. The Bible says he that covereth his sin shall not prosper; an open rebuke is better than secret love.
Let me be clear: I respect Apostle Suleman. I respect his calling, his ministry, and the impact he has had. But respecting someone does not mean agreeing with everything. Respect does not mean silence. If tomorrow Reverend Isaac misbehaves, I will say it plainly. And if tomorrow Suleman does what is right, I will gladly applaud him. I don’t worship personalities. I stand with truth.
And this is my observation — not about Suleman alone, but about human nature in general:
People who struggle with certain weaknesses are usually the quickest to react when someone touches the area they are uncomfortable with. A message that exposes the thing you are secretly dealing with will always feel like an attack. It is easier to attack the messenger than to face the message.
The Nigerian church has a long history of suppressing anyone whose voice challenges their comfort zone. Criticism is considered rebellion. Correction is considered hatred. And those who speak plainly are labelled as enemies.
But if a message is false, ignore it.
If a message is true, humble yourself.
If a message convicts you, thank God and grow.
Reverend Isaac may not be perfect. No preacher is. But dismissing his experiences or attacking his character does not solve anything. It only shows how allergic we have become to truth.
The Body of Christ must learn to differentiate between attack and accountability, between hate and honesty, and between disrespect and discernment.
At the end of the day, truth will always outlive trends.
Voices may rise and fall, but truth stands.
