Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Paul Enenche, has insisted that Christianity is not inferior or subordinate to any religion in Nigeria, as he reacted sharply to comments credited to Islamic cleric Sheikh Yahya Jingir.

Enenche, speaking during a Sunday service at the church’s headquarters in Abuja, addressed a viral video in which Jingir reportedly backed the continuation of a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in 2027 and suggested that Christianity was secondary in the country.

In a video of the sermon shared on his X account, Enenche condemned the remarks, describing them as an affront to the Christian faith and to millions of believers across Nigeria. He declared that no individual or political arrangement could relegate Christianity in a nation where Christians are present “in every part” of the country.

He said he was informed of the controversy while returning from a crusade and was stunned that anyone could publicly claim that Christianity was subordinate to another religion. Enenche dismissed such a person as unfit to speak on national issues and invoked a spiritual rebuke, saying the “Lord rebuke you and your devils.”

The pastor stressed that the Christian community remained a major moral and social force in Nigeria and warned against attempts to provoke or marginalise it. According to him, those who make inflammatory religious statements underestimate both the size and resilience of the Church.

Enenche also broadened his criticism to include political and religious figures who, in his view, exploit faith for divisive purposes. He questioned what tangible contributions such voices had made to national development, arguing that their rhetoric only deepens mistrust and threatens Nigeria’s fragile cohesion.

He urged religious leaders to exercise restraint and responsibility in their public pronouncements, noting that careless words could inflame tensions and destabilise communities. He further called on security agencies to monitor and address statements capable of inciting violence or undermining peace.

The controversy stems from an event attended by prominent politicians, where Jingir reportedly praised President Bola Tinubu for championing a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 election and urged continued support for similar arrangements in future polls. His comments, including an appeal to Muslims to secure their voter cards, have reignited debate over religious balance in Nigeria’s political leadership.

Enenche’s intervention adds a powerful Pentecostal voice to that debate, underscoring growing unease among Christian leaders about rhetoric they see as dismissive of their faith and its place in the country’s public life.