Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has criticised Apostle Arome Osayi after the Nigerian cleric’s name appeared on a promotional flyer for an upcoming crusade without a Nigerian flag attached to it.
The flyer for the “Cameroon For Jesus Crusade & Conference” reportedly features several ministers alongside country flags. While some Nigerian ministers on the flyer were identified with the Nigerian flag, Arome Osayi’s name appeared without the Nigerian flag, prompting VDM to question the decision.
The development comes shortly after Arome and his wife publicly announced that they had secured permanent residence in the United States.
Reacting to the flyer and the residency announcement, VDM accused the cleric of distancing himself from his Nigerian identity.
“You just got U.S. residency, and you’ve already dumped your identity,” VDM said while criticising the pastor’s representation on the flyer.
The activist questioned why Arome, whom he identified as a Nigerian, was not represented with the Nigerian flag alongside his name, particularly after obtaining U.S. permanent residence.
The controversy has also reopened an earlier disagreement between VDM and Arome over the pastor’s comments about Nigeria’s national purpose.
In a previous teaching, Arome argued that different nations have different callings, using China’s technological development and Nigeria’s emphasis on prayer and revival as examples.
“So the next time you see someone showing what the Chinese are doing, that they are making engines, and then showing what the Nigerians are doing, we are praying, you don’t understand that nations have callings. Our calling as a nation is revival,” Arome said.
VDM has repeatedly challenged that position, arguing that Nigerian youths should not be encouraged to focus on prayer at the expense of creativity, innovation and practical development. He has also questioned Arome’s decision to move his family to the United States while promoting his interpretation of Nigeria’s spiritual calling.
Arome’s official website identifies him as Nigerian-born and describes him as an apostle, author, entrepreneur and philanthropist. The site also says his ministry prioritises innovation and creativity in its media activities.
Meanwhile, it remains unclear whether the absence of a Nigerian flag on the Cameroon crusade flyer was personally requested by Arome or was simply a decision made by the event organisers. Reports on the controversy have not established that the cleric personally chose to remove or reject Nigerian identification on the flyer.
The issue has nevertheless generated debate online, with reactions focusing on national identity, migration, religious teachings and the responsibilities of prominent Nigerians living abroad.
