Juliana Olayode jumps to the defense of religious leaders as they face backlash for not speaking out against rising crime rates.

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By Enitan Abdultawab

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Nollywood actress Juliana Olayode has defended Nigerian pastors facing criticism over their perceived silence on the wave of attacks, kidnappings and insecurity across the country.

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The actress, in a recent Instagram post, argued that religious leaders should not be judged solely by their public statements on social media, stressing that meaningful actions often take place away from the public eye.

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“I’ve been seeing a lot of videos of people calling out pastors,” she wrote.

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“Yes, I believe pastors should speak up more. So should Imams, Sheikhs, and everyone with a voice and influence.

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But we should not automatically assume that those who are not speaking publicly on social media are doing nothing or are unconcerned about what is happening in the country.”

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Olayode maintained that while pastors can comment on political and social issues, activism is not their primary responsibility.

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“Pastors are not activists, though they certainly can speak on political and societal issues when they feel led to do so,” she said.

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The actress also acknowledged that some religious leaders have attracted criticism because of misconduct, but insisted that many genuine pastors continue to serve faithfully and responsibly.

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“While false pastors exist, so do genuine ones, men and women who serve faithfully, walk in integrity and carry their spiritual responsibility with sincerity,” she stated.

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According to Olayode, the role of spiritual leaders often extends beyond making public statements, noting that prayer, intercession, counselling, and private engagement with those in authority are also important forms of service.

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“Throughout the scriptures, God’s servants didn’t always respond to national crises with public statements. Sometimes their assignment was to pray, intercede, offer counsel, and personally engage those in authority as God directed,” she added.

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Her comments come amid growing calls from some Nigerians for religious leaders to speak more openly about the country’s security and governance challenges.

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