Spyro says many Nigerian clerics profit from hardship and insecurity, urging them to educate and guide citizens.
Afrobeats singer Spyro has accused some Nigerian religious leaders of benefiting from the country’s economic hardship and insecurity, arguing that this may explain their reluctance to speak out more forcefully on national issues.
The singer, best known for his hit song Who’s Your Guy, made the remarks during a recent interview with Wozobia FM Lagos, where he called on clerics to take a more active role in addressing the challenges facing their congregations.
According to Spyro, religious leaders have a responsibility not only to provide spiritual guidance but also to educate worshippers on issues affecting their safety, wellbeing and civic participation.
“Nigerian religious leaders should speak up against insecurity. They should tell the people on how to secure themselves and include the issue of insecurity in their sermons. They should also give their congregants proper electoral orientations,” he said.
The singer expressed disappointment that many clerics have failed to engage sufficiently with these issues, claiming that some benefit financially from the worsening conditions in the country.
“Unfortunately, they are not doing that because the more the country is spoiling, the more money they make.
“Anywhere there is a crisis in a country, the people who benefit the most are religious leaders,” he stated.
Spyro further stressed the need for greater accountability across all levels of leadership, insisting that religious leaders should not be exempt from public scrutiny.
“We should make sure we hold all our leaders, including clerics, accountable,” he added.