In this clime where outrage travels faster than truth and condemnation is often louder than compassion, one is tempted to ask, without malice or mischief: Wetin Pastor Chris Okafor do sef?
Yes, Pastor Chris Okafor has apologised over his sex mess with actress Doris Ogala. Yes, it was messy, embarrassing and disappointing – especially for a man of God who preaches holiness and self-control.
But beyond the noise, the memes, the righteous anger and the moral grandstanding, there lies a bigger, more honest question: when a man falls, owns up and says “I am sorry,” what exactly do we want to do with him – crucify him or restore him?
Let us be clear from the onset: sin is sin. Wrong is wrong. No title, anointing, collar or pulpit changes that. But forgiveness, too, is forgiveness – whether the sinner is a pastor, politician, prophet, pope or plumber.
Ironically, the same Bible many are now weaponising against Pastor Okafor is replete with men and women of God who succumbed to the flesh and yet were not cancelled by heaven.
King David, “a man after God’s heart,” did not just flirt; he committed adultery with Bathsheba and arranged the death of her husband, Uriah. That was not a rumour – God Himself confronted David through Prophet Nathan. David broke down, repented sincerely, and though he faced consequences, he was forgiven and restored.
Samson, a Nazarite set apart by God, could not control his lust. Delilah was not his first misadventure. Yet God still answered his final prayer.
Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, had 700 wives and 300 concubines. If today’s social media existed in his time, he would trend every week. Yet God used him mightily.
Peter denied Jesus three times at the most critical moment. Jesus did not cancel him; He restored him and made him a pillar of the early Church.
Even the woman caught in adultery – dragged publicly to be stoned – was spared by Jesus with those immortal words: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone.”
Fast-forward to our contemporary world. How many revered men and women of God – globally and in Nigeria – have stumbled morally, sexually, financially, emotionally? Some confessed. Some were exposed. Some repented quietly. Some loudly. Yet many were forgiven, restored, and went on to continue their ministries, albeit wiser and humbler.
From televangelists in America to charismatic pastors in Africa, the story is sadly familiar: flawed humans in sacred offices struggling with human weaknesses. This is not an excuse; it is a reality.
So why is Pastor Chris Okafor’s case being treated as if he committed the unforgivable sin?
Is it because the woman involved is a Nollywood actress and the matter played out in the public space? Is it because scandal sells? Or is it because we secretly enjoy watching people we consider “holier than thou” fall, so we can feel better about our own hidden sins?
Let us not pretend. Nigeria is a deeply religious society with a very shallow understanding of grace. We love pastors when they are performing miracles, prophesying breakthroughs and sharing testimonies. But the moment one of them bleeds, we suddenly become moral judges with spotless records.
Pastor Chris Okafor apologized. He did not deny. He did not threaten. He did not blame witches or enemies. He said, in essence, I messed up. In a society where accountability is scarce, that alone should count for something.
Does apology erase consequences? No.
Does forgiveness mean endorsing the sin? No.
Does grace mean standards no longer matter? No.
But forgiveness means we recognise that no human being is beyond redemption. It means we leave room for repentance, correction and growth. It means we stop playing God.
If we truly believe in Christianity – not the Instagram version, but the one rooted in Christ – then forgiveness is not optional. It is the very core of the faith.
The real danger is not that a pastor fell. The real danger is a society that pretends to be sinless while quietly drowning in hypocrisy – married men cheating, married women cheating, singles fornicating, youths experimenting, leaders stealing, followers lying – yet reserving all the stones for one man because he wears a clerical collar.
So again, wetin Pastor Chris Okafor do sef?
He sinned. He apologized. He is human.
Let him learn. Let him heal. Let him be corrected by his spiritual authorities. Let him face whatever internal discipline his ministry deems fit. But let us stop the public lynching disguised as righteousness.
Because if God were to expose all of us the way we are so eager to expose others, the streets would not contain the shame.
Grace is not cheap – but it is available.
Forgiveness is not weakness – it is Christianity.
And today, Pastor Chris Okafor deserves it.
*Adebayo Ayorinde is a public commentator and analyst.
