Nigerian broadcaster, Daddy Freeze, has responded to the supposed death threats made by a Port Harcourt-based Founder of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie.
Pastor Ibiyeomie had reportedly threatened to ‘kill’ Daddy Freeze if he ever insulted who he (Pastor Ibiyeomie) described as his ‘father’, the founder of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, again.
Pastor Ibiyeomie made the threat and rained curses on the broadcaster while delivering a sermon at his church headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday.
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However, Daddy Freeze responded to the threats in a video which he posted on his YouTube channel in the early hours, of Tuesday.
In his response, he accused the pastor of racism, discrimination and threat to life. He also said he was ‘devastated’ by the pastor’s video because of the ‘content’ and he went on to reveal why his remarks bothered him a lot.
Defending himself, Daddy Freeze said contrary to Pastor Ibiyeomie’s claims, he did not insult Bisho Oyedepo, but simply drew the religious leader’s attention to a portion of the Bible.
In the words of the broadcaster, “Correcting the scripture is not an insult. Christ was criticized, Peter was criticized, Paul was criticized, even the Pharisees were criticized, so there’s no way you’re going to preach a message from the scriptures that you’ll not get criticisms.”
In his sermon, pastor Ibiyeomie had described Daddy Freeze as a ‘non-Nigerian & a Somalian’, a statement that has been condemned by many.
Daddy Freeze said the term “half-caste” is “racist” and asked the cleric to apologise to victims of racism.
Daddy Freeze said he found it “devastating that just to get to me, Pastor Ibiyeomie will drag the whole Somalia nation. I’m very proud to associate myself with Somalians because they’re a beautiful people.
“It is hate speech to undermine them with derogatory words, like there’s anything wrong with the Somalians.”
He also drew the attention of the public and the law enforcement agencies to the threat to his life.
“Pastor Ibiyeomie, I don’t know if you realise that a threat to life is a criminal offence…. If anything happens to me, I hope you know who to hold responsible”.
In his viral sermon, Pastor Ibiyeomie appeared to undermine the broadcasting profession in a bid to justify that Daddy Freeze was being paid pittance as a radio host. This statement also attracted criticisms especially on Twitter.
“You went on again to undermine the noble profession of broadcasting. I’m a proud broadcaster for the last 25 years. I’ve dedicated my life to this beautiful, noble profession. I think you should apologize to every journalist, every broadcaster, for undermining our work,” he noted.
Reacting to being called a “bastard” by Pastor Ibiyeomie, Daddy Freeze said, “You say I’m not my father’s son. I put it to you to prove who my real father is.”
Pastor Ibiyeomie’s remarks had continued to attract mixed reactions from the public on social media.
The likes of Charly Boy, Reno Omokri and Femi Aribisala have all eased into the debate.
