Israel, Hamas Conflict: 'He is a big joke' - Rufai Oseni slaps Odumeje over warning to Nigerian pastors

Arise Television co-host Rufai Oseni has shared his thoughts on a recent comment by controversial Onitsha-based cleric Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere warning Nigerian pastors not to pray for Israel amid its ongoing war with Hamas in Palestine.

In a video that has now-viral video, Odumeje, while addressing his congregation, threatened to make any Nigerian pastor who keeps calling for prayers for Israel “deaf and dumb”.

He, however, urged clerics to rather focus their prayers on the challenges bedeviling Nigeria.

“Your own country Nigeria, you have not prayed for your president who does not know left and right,” he spoke in a mixture of Igbo and pidgin English.

“Any pastor I hear say pray for Israel… If you pray pim for any Israel, I will make you deaf and dumb. Pastor agbero.”

Reacting to the statement by the cleric on the What's Trending segment on the morning show, Rufai Oseni simply described Odumeje as a "big joke" adding "we don't take people like that seriously"

On October 7, the Hamas militant group infiltrated Israel from Gaza in an unprecedented attack through the air, land and sea — opening another vicious chapter in the age-long, complex crisis between Israel and Palestine.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minster of Israel, also vowed that it would annihilate the Hamas militant group and asked residents of Gaza to flee the city as Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) will operate forcefully.

More than 4,000 people have reportedly been killed on both sides since the latest conflict began.