VeryDarkMan and Apostle Arome Osayi have clashed over the cleric's claim that Nigeria's national calling is revival.
By Avid Reporters
VDM Arome Osayi controversy has erupted online after social activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), challenged Apostle Arome Osayi over the cleric’s assertion that Nigeria’s national calling is spiritual revival.
The controversy began after Arome Osayi, founder of the Remnant Christian Network, addressed what he described as differences in the purposes and callings of nations, using Nigeria and China as examples.
In the sermon, the cleric argued that Nigerians should not judge the country’s purpose solely by economic or technological achievements, saying Nigeria has a distinct spiritual assignment centred on revival.
The statement has since generated a fierce public debate, with VDM strongly rejecting the argument and questioning whether religious revival should be presented as Nigeria’s primary national purpose.
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Why Arome Osayi Says Nigeria’s Calling Is Revival
Arome’s argument was rooted in his Christian understanding of national purpose.
While comparing Nigeria with countries such as China, the cleric pointed to China’s manufacturing and technological achievements and contrasted them with what he described as Nigeria’s emphasis on prayer.
His central argument was that nations can have different callings and that Nigeria’s purpose should not necessarily be measured by the same standards used to assess technologically advanced countries.
Arome said Nigeria’s calling is revival, adding that he believes something spiritual is expected to emerge from the country and spread to other nations.
He further linked Nigeria’s role to what he described as the spread of the gospel and end-time spiritual activities.
The comments were made during a sermon and subsequently circulated widely on social media, where they attracted both support and criticism.
VDM Rejects the Argument
The position did not sit well with VDM, who responded in a video shared on social media.
The activist challenged the idea that Nigeria’s problems should primarily be understood through the lens of a spiritual calling.
VDM argued that Nigerians possess the intellectual ability required to compete with countries that have made significant advances in science, technology and manufacturing.
According to reports of his response, he questioned why Nigerians should focus heavily on prayer and religious activities when the country also needs innovation, creativity, technological development and practical solutions to its problems.
His criticism extended beyond Arome’s specific argument to a broader examination of the role of religious institutions in Nigerian society.
VDM argued that both churches and mosques have, in his view, contributed to a culture in which people sometimes look towards miracles instead of applying their abilities to solve practical problems.
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VDM Takes Personal Swipes At Arome
The disagreement subsequently became more personal.
While challenging Arome’s position, VDM made remarks mocking the cleric’s facial appearance and referenced the possibility of technology being used to correct it.
The personal comments have become one of the most discussed aspects of the controversy, even though the original disagreement centred on Nigeria’s national purpose and the place of spirituality in the country’s development.
VDM’s remarks have consequently shifted part of the online conversation from the substance of Arome’s sermon to the manner in which the activist chose to respond.
The Bigger Argument: Revival Or Development?
At the heart of the controversy is a much broader question about Nigeria’s future.
Arome’s position represents a theological argument that Nigeria has a spiritual role that extends beyond conventional measures of national development.
For the cleric, religious revival is not necessarily presented as an alternative to development but as part of what he believes to be Nigeria’s divine purpose.
VDM, however, has focused attention on technological advancement, innovation and the practical application of Nigerian talent.
His criticism raises a different question: whether religious activity should translate into measurable improvements in areas such as education, technology, manufacturing, infrastructure, governance and economic productivity.
The disagreement has therefore developed into more than a clash between two public personalities.
It has become a debate about what Nigerians should prioritise and how the country’s progress should be understood.
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A Debate That Has Spread Beyond The Church
The controversy has also attracted reactions from other commentators.
Social commentator Solomon Buchi separately criticised Arome’s argument, questioning whether the growth of Christianity in Nigeria has produced sufficient evidence of the kind of moral transformation that would support claims of a national revival.
Buchi’s intervention added another dimension to the debate, focusing on the relationship between religious growth and social conduct in Nigeria.
The different reactions demonstrate the extent to which Arome’s original sermon has moved beyond its church setting and entered the wider national conversation.
Arome’s Broader Ministry Focus
Arome Osayi is the founder of the Remnant Christian Network, a Christian ministry headquartered in Makurdi, Benue State.
His official ministry platform describes his work as centred on apostolic Christianity, prayer, biblical teaching, discipleship and raising Christian leaders.
The ministry also operates media and educational initiatives aimed at spreading its teachings and training ministers.
Arome’s latest comments about Nigeria’s calling are therefore consistent with the broader spiritual and ministerial emphasis associated with his public teachings.
Why The Controversy Matters
The disagreement between VDM and Arome Osayi comes at a time when Nigerians continue to debate how the country can overcome its economic, technological, political and social challenges.
For one side of the argument, spiritual transformation remains fundamental to national renewal.
For the other, religious belief must be accompanied by practical action, innovation and the development of systems capable of producing tangible improvements in society.
The dispute has brought those competing perspectives into sharp focus.
Whether Nigeria’s national purpose should be described primarily in spiritual terms or measured through technological and socioeconomic progress remains a matter of interpretation and belief.
What is not in doubt is that Arome’s statement has succeeded in generating a significant public conversation, with VDM’s response pushing the debate far beyond the original church setting.
As reactions continue online, the controversy has left Nigerians with a question that extends beyond both personalities:
What exactly should Nigeria’s greatest national calling be — spiritual revival, technological advancement, or a combination of both?
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