Senior Pastor of House on the Rock Church, Paul Adefarasin, has sparked widespread reactions after declaring that Nigeria’s creation was not an act of divine will but a calculated move by British colonial powers for economic gain.
Speaking during a sermon on Sunday, Adefarasin disputed the common belief that Nigeria’s foundation was guided by God, insisting it was shaped by colonial power struggles.
“Nigeria, I do not believe it was created by God. I don’t believe it. I believe that Elizabeth the First got into a deal with the Ottoman Empire and they had a deal concerning the Sudan,” he said, citing historical references from the book The Martyrdom of Man.
According to Adefarasin, the nation’s constitution lacks legitimacy because it was authored by the military and not the collective will of the people. Drawing on Psalm 11:3, he likened Nigeria to a building standing on a shaky foundation.
“When a constitution is proposed to be of we the people and it is not, you have to question why we obey it. Nigeria cannot be a solid nation that is properly grounded going towards her destiny,” he added.
The pastor also condemned systemic corruption, pointing to poorly constructed roads as evidence of governance failure. He suggested that recurring road repairs reflect vested interests in repeated contracts rather than infrastructure quality.
Adefarasin further rejected the widely celebrated nationalist figures such as Obafemi Awolowo, Tafawa Balewa, Ahmadu Bello, and Nnamdi Azikiwe as Nigeria’s true founders. Instead, he credited British colonial authorities and Lord Lugard for orchestrating the country’s creation, adding that Lugard’s partner coined the name “Nigeria.”
“This nation was created for the business of the British purse so they wouldn’t have to bear the bill for the not as prosperous and wealthy part of the country,” he stated.
His remarks have reignited conversations around Nigeria’s historical origins, constitutional legitimacy, and governance challenges.
