“When pastors gather poor people to organise prayers against poverty, you are being foolish” — Rev. Fr. Oluoma

A Nigerian Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. John Chinenye Oluoma, has stirred widespread reactions online after criticising the growing trend of organising prayer sessions aimed at “breaking poverty” among the poor.

In a viral message circulating across social media, the cleric argued that such spiritual gatherings often misdirect responsibility and fail to address the root causes of economic hardship.

Cleric Questions Focus of Poverty Prayers

“I kept talking before and I will keep telling you. When men of God will gather you poor people to organise prayers to break poverty and you go, you are being foolish,” he said.

While acknowledging the role of spirituality, he stressed that prayers alone are not the primary solution to poverty. He insisted that those in positions of power should be the focus of such spiritual interventions.

“You are being foolish. Yes, spiritual powers can actually end poverty. I don’t disagree with that,” he added.

Calls for “Deliverance” of Political Leaders

The priest argued that Nigeria’s economic challenges are largely tied to leadership failures rather than the spiritual state of the poor.

He suggested that political leaders should undergo “deliverance” from negative traits such as greed and incompetence.

According to him, individuals occupying key leadership positions, including Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Kashim Shettima, and Godswill Akpabio, should be the focus of such prayers.

“So instead of your prophet gathering you to empty olive oil on your body, you should go and gather Tinubu, Shettima, Akpabio, all the governors, all the ministers…,” he stated.

He further called for leaders to be delivered from “the spirit of greed… avarice… tribalism… incompetence,” insisting they are the ones who truly require transformation.

Criticism of “Profit-Driven” Prophets

The priest also took aim at religious figures who claim to have the power to eliminate poverty through spiritual means, accusing some of exploiting vulnerable followers.

“Any man that claims to be a powerful prophet that can cure poverty by spiritual power… the person is only using you to enrich his own pocket. The person is a scammer,” he said.

Leadership at the Core of Economic Solutions

Concluding his remarks, the cleric emphasised that solving material challenges requires responsible leadership rather than reliance on repeated spiritual rituals.

“To solve the problem, the material problems among you is about leadership,” he said, urging Nigerians to rethink their approach to tackling poverty.

Watch the video here…

“When men of God will gather you p%%r people to organise prayers to break poverty and you go, you are being f%%lish. The people who need the anointing to break the yoke of poverty are the distributors of the gifts.” – Rev. Fr. John Chinenye Oluomapic.twitter.com/muuETe5Z5L

— Instablog9ja (@instablog9ja) May 4, 2026