Nigeria Not Immune To Nepal-Like Uprising, Ex-Osinbajo Campaign DG Warns
REVEREND Yomi Kasali, former Director General of the 2019 Osinbajo Presidential Campaign Organisation, has warned that Nigeria could face a similar uprising to the recent protests in Nepal if urgent steps are not taken to address widespread poverty and economic hardship.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos ahead of the Foundation of Truth Assembly’s upcoming 2025 “Giant Killers Conference,” Kasali urged Nigerian churches to rise to the occasion and support the poor in practical and impactful ways.
Referencing the recent mass protests in Nepal—led predominantly by Generation Z youths against corruption, nepotism, and restrictions on social media—Kasali cautioned that no nation is immune to revolution. The Nepal protests, which turned deadly, reportedly resulted in over 22 fatalities and hundreds of injuries.
“What happened in Nepal a few days ago can happen here. No country is immune to revolution,” Kasali said. “I watched some of the protest videos on TikTok and had to call my son in the U.S. I told him, ‘I’m scared. If this happens in Nigeria, people like us may not survive it.’ In such chaos, the poor often see all the wealthy as corrupt, and the innocent can become victims.”
Kasali, who is also the General Overseer of the Foundation of Truth Assembly, criticized Nigerian churches for what he described as excessive materialism and a lack of meaningful social impact.
“While our people are dying in hunger, churches are basking in luxury—building gigantic structures and showing off Rolls Royces,” he said. “It’s time to move beyond materialism. Seventy-five percent of those who attend our churches are poor. Maybe only half of them can afford two or three meals a day.”
He called on churches to re-evaluate their priorities and contribute more significantly to alleviating the suffering of their congregants and the wider society.
“I’m making a clarion call to all churches: let’s do more. Let’s stop the madness of competing over who owns the biggest building or the most luxurious car. Instead, let’s think of the hearts and lives of the poor.”
Kasali emphasized that institutions—both religious and corporate—must work together to fight poverty. He proposed tax incentives for private companies that commit significant resources to poverty alleviation efforts.
“For example, if MTN commits ₦20 billion in 2026 to tackle poverty, they should receive tax breaks. That’s how it works in many developed countries,” he said. “If 20 major companies in Nigeria invest ₦20 billion each, that’s ₦400 billion that could directly fight poverty.”
He also urged the government to hold churches more accountable for contributing to social welfare, noting that most do not pay taxes.
“My fear is that if we don’t fix poverty, poverty will fix us. And when it does, it won’t ask who is good or bad. It will come like a tsunami.”
Kasali commended the Lagos State government and President Bola Tinubu for their efforts so far, noting that Lagos in particular is doing commendable work in managing the current crisis.
On the issue of insecurity, he argued that crime would naturally decrease if poverty is reduced. He also urged religious institutions—both churches and mosques—to move away from preaching materialism and instead focus on moral and ethical teachings.
“The church and mosque are meant to be the chief moral institutions of society. We must return to that role.”
The Foundation of Truth Assembly’s 2025 conference, themed “The Stone and the Slingshot,” will run from September 21 to 27. It will feature prominent leaders from the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, including Bishop Mike Okonkwo, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, and Dr. Felix Omobude, among others.
