Initiated by popular gospel musician, Nathaniel Bassey, on his verified social media accounts, #JESUS, which was inscribed with red text font on a white background, became a trend on Tuesday on Twitter, Facebook, as well as Instagram, as many called on JESUS to intervene in the horrible situation in Nigeria.
This is just as the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, posted on his verified Facebook page that “I know a name that can change the current state of Nigeria for Good,” he posted.
Adeboye's message, which coincided with the Jesus trend, came just hours after he reacted to the gruesome killing of Christian worshipers at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, on Sunday morning.
However, the trend #JESUS went viral just as the ruling All Progressives Congress began its national convention for the presidential primary ahead of the 2023 general elections, leaving many with various assumptions, particularly about RCCG pastor – Vice President Yemi Osunbajo, who is among the APC aspirants vying for the party's tickets against Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, among others.
Tweeps began uploading photoshopped versions of the #JESUS image with inscriptions containing names of diety's such 'Ifa' and 'Obatala,' while others made references to receiving the permanent voter card, resulting in imitation posts and counter-trends.
Although the organizer, Nathaniel Bassey, did not directly link the #JESUS trend to the APC primary, he captioned the photo as follows: "Can we Make this picture our profile picture and tweet at 12 noon?"
Let us pour this priceless balm over our land and country.
JESUS.
Demons scream at the mention of Jesus' name!"
Reacting to rants from the anti-JESUS trend tweeps, actress Lala Akindoju said, “Churches have been organising voter registration programs for months at no cost. They have been educating their members on the importance of voting and being active citizens. This Present House has had one since March, increased from twice a week to daily. I think DCC also has one.
“But Y’all want to bully people for exercising their faith? If you don’t like it, jump and pass, but bullying and insulting are so wrong. Some churches even insist on members having PVCs. There’s no shame in praying. WE WILL PRAY, VOTE, ENGAGE THE SYSTEM AND INSIST.
“Y’all should focus on calling out your leaders and lawmakers and leave Christians alone. Kilode gan?
“One more thing before I go….when people are doing all manner of challenges and jokes in the midst of the chaos and craziness in Nigeria, your blood doesn’t boil o. It’s when people are posting JESUS that you’re now forming intellectual. E è tí mo olókò tí ó n wà yín.”
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