Social media users tackle clergyman, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, for speaking against the assassination attempt on Donald Trump but not on the violence recorded during the 2023 general election

Nigerian clergyman and Senior Pastor of House on the Rock, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, has received heat from social media users after he issued a statement condemning the assassination attempt on former US President, Donald Trump, at a campaign rally last night.

A bullet pierced the former US President’s right ear at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, July 13.  The shooting left one person dead and another seriously injured.

In a statement released on social media, Adefarasin thanked God for Trump’s survival and extended condolences to the family of the deceased spectator. He wrote;

‘’We condemn political violence in the leading democracy of the free world. We are thankful to God for the survival of former President Donald J. Trump without fatal injury. We extend our condolences to the family of the deceased spectator and offer our prayers for the injured. Our prayers remain for a speedy and total recovery of former President Trump.

 

We applaud the rapid response of the Secret Service and are grateful that the assassination attempt failed. This allows Donald Trump to continue in the democratic process. We salute President Biden for condemning the assassination attempt and for his conversation with Donald Trump.

 

Our prayers are with both candidates and the democratic process in America. As Africans, we draw inspiration from the American democratic process. Long live American democracy, and may God bless America.”

However, Adefarasin’s post was met with harsh criticism from Nigerians, who accused him of hypocrisy for failing to condemn the violence and killings during Nigeria’s 2023 elections.

The backlash was swift and fierce, with many Nigerians flooding his comment section. See the different reactions below..