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The Akwa Ibom State Government has delivered a blistering rebuke to Pastor Yinka Yusuf, accusing him of hate speech, gross disrespect and deliberate provocation, and declaring him unwelcome in the state following what it described as a “vitriolic and denigrating” outburst against the people of Akwa Ibom.

In a strongly worded statement issued on January 30, the government said the decision by the Akwa Ibom Property and Investment Company Limited (APICO) to deny Yusuf access to the Ibom Hall Grounds for his proposed crusade had nothing to do with security concerns, stressing that Akwa Ibom remains peaceful and stable. Rather, it said the action was necessitated by a widely circulated video in which the cleric allegedly stereotyped, insulted and demeaned the intelligence and identity of Akwa Ibom people.

The government described the remarks as a direct affront to the state’s estimated 7.9 million citizens, noting that the comments were inciting, morally repugnant and fundamentally at odds with Christian values.

“Hate speech is not evangelism, and insults are not a substitute for doctrine,” the statement said, adding that Akwa Ibom people would never be expected to embrace a church, ministry or crusade “built on contempt for their identity.”

The state government found it particularly ironic, it said, that such comments were directed at a state led by Governor Umo Eno, himself a pastor, who has consistently demonstrated that faith, tolerance, humility and respect for human dignity can coexist with public leadership.

Recalling Akwa Ibom’s long history of enlightenment and leadership, the government traced the state’s legacy to 1936, when its forebears pioneered the first community-sponsored overseas scholarship scheme in the region, producing the famed “Merchants of Light” who later served Nigeria with distinction across law, education, agriculture and public service.

The statement also rejected any attempt to portray Akwa Ibom as hostile to Christianity, pointing out that the people were among the earliest evangelists in Nigeria, spreading the Gospel through the Qua Iboe Church with humility and respect for local cultures. It stressed that Christianity in Akwa Ibom has always been rooted in service and honour, not insults and provocation.

Highlighting the state’s national contributions, the government listed eminent figures produced by Akwa Ibom, including Nigeria’s first commissioned military officer, Wellington Bassey; the country’s first Cardinal, Dominic Ekanem; former Central Bank Governor Clement Isong; former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Nsikak Eduok; and Philip Effiong, whose actions helped bring the Nigerian Civil War to an end. This tradition, it said, continues under successive democratic administrations, culminating in the current leadership of Governor Umo Eno.

The government further underscored Akwa Ibom’s openness, hospitality and religious tolerance, noting that globally respected evangelists routinely hold crusades in the state. It cited the ongoing crusade by Pastor W.F. Kumuyi of the Deeper Life Christian Ministry as evidence, adding that Kumuyi followed due process by formally notifying the state and paying a courtesy visit to the governor.

By contrast, the government accused Pastor Yusuf of flouting established protocol, failing to engage security and emergency agencies, ignoring Christian bodies such as CAN and PFN in the state, and making what it described as unverifiable claims of attracting over 5,000 international participants. It challenged him to publicly substantiate those claims.

According to the statement, where large gatherings or foreign participants are involved, organisers are required to notify relevant authorities to enable government to safeguard lives and property, warning that disregard for process, especially when combined with hate speech, was unacceptable.

“Taken together, these facts leave no doubt that Pastor Yusuf’s actions were not motivated by the preaching of love or unity, but by a conscious attempt to provoke, insult and sow division,” the government declared.

It stated unequivocally that Akwa Ibom does not welcome Pastor Yusuf or his “suspicious crusade,” citing his denigrating actions, defamatory utterances and open disrespect for the people and lawful authority of the state.

While noting that the cleric has since taken his crusade elsewhere, the government said he owes the people of Akwa Ibom an unreserved apology. It disclosed that the defamatory video had been referred to the Attorney-General of the State for review, warning that failure to apologise could result in legal action.

The government affirmed its full support for APICO’s decision to deny the use of the Ibom Hall Grounds, insisting that no public facility would be made available for events “anchored on hate, disrespect and incitement.”

Reiterating that Akwa Ibom remains peaceful and united, the state said it would continue to pursue progress, harmony and enlightened leadership under Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda, positioning the state as a beacon of tolerance and development.