The Senior Pastor of House on the Rock, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, is facing backlash online following his comments about the failed assassination on the former President of the United States of America, Donald Trump.
On Saturday, during a political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a young man shot at the presidential candidate, narrowly missing his head. While Trump was shielded of the stage by the secret service, the shooter was neutralised within seconds of his attempt.
Trump sustained a minor injury during the attack before the Secret Service quickly escorted him off the stage after gunshots were fired.
In a post via X, Adefarasin condemned the political violence on Trump and expressed appreciation to God for his survival without fatal injury.
He said, “We condemn political violence in the leading democracy of the free world. We are thankful to God for the survival of former President Donald J. Trump without fatal injury. We extend our condolences to the family of the deceased spectator and offer our prayers for the injured. Our prayers remain for a speedy and total recovery of former President Trump.
“We applaud the rapid response of the Secret Service and are grateful that the assassination attempt failed. This allows Donald Trump to continue in the democratic process. We salute President Biden for condemning the assassination attempt and for his conversation with Donald Trump.
“Our prayers are with both candidates and the democratic process in America. As Africans, we draw inspiration from the American democratic process. Long live American democracy, and may God bless America.”
However, many Nigerians took to his comment section to criticize him, stating that the clergyman was silent in the face of the violence that characterised Nigeria’s 2023 election.
@Spotlight_Abby: “Just like DJ Cuppy, Mr. Paul Adefarasin shows his focus and the elections that matter to him. The political violence happening everyday and everywhere in Nigeria don’t matter. After all, Africa is just a harvest ground for resources, tithes and offerings, for these “superior” mortals.”
@HonAdaora: “I’m just speechless! So he tweets? He actually sees political violence? Wowwwww!!!”
@RealQueenBee__: “Mr Saul must come, you’re a shame, a disgrace to your mother country & the Church. Your hypocrisy stinks and will continue to stink. You never condemned the high scale v!0lence & k!ll!ngs that marred the 2023 elections in Nigeria, but quick to condemn it in The United States.”
@FS_Yusuf_: “You onlook the ones that happened right una your nose, to be written this rubbish like you truly care. Even the Pharisees didn’t display this level of hypocrisy.”
@AfamDeluxo: “Pastor, despite the political violence in 2023 General elections in Lagos, where you pastor & have your headquarters, there was/has been no condemnation from you, even with video evidence and reports from EU observers. Nevertheless, carry on, sir. We all know what we are doing.”
Rinu Oduala @SavvyRinu: “Did you condemn the electoral violence against voters in Nigeria, especially the vicious threats and attacks unleashed against Nigerians from the SE in Lagos? You talk about democracy, what about the flagrantly rigged elections that was orchestrated in your country in 2023?”
@rusticfunmi: “You’ve never condemned: The electoral violence deployed during 2023 elections to rig a drug baron into power. The ongoing genocidial xenophobia/bigotry targeted towards a particular ethnic group. The k!llings of Christians in the North/Middlebelt. Pastor Gym. E ku ise”
@FirstObidient: “You didn’t condemn political violence in Nigeria. You were even accused of attacking a motorist in Lagos some months ago, you kept your mouth shut, today you have something to say. A hypocrite!”