MC Oluomo Dances in Celestial Church video Sparks Religious and Political Controversy

The national president of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (nurtw“>NURTW), popularly known as MC Oluomo, has sparked a new controversy after being spotted singing and dancing inside a Celestial Church of Christ, which went viral.

The video shows the prominent political figure, who is known for his Islamic beliefs, joining a procession and donning the signature white sultan (sutana) often worn by members of the Celestial Church.

The event was reported to have taken place at the Celestial Church of Christ, Ojodu Central Model Parish in Lagos State.

The video has awakened critics with a lot of questions, particularly coming from people who know that MC Oluomo is from a Muslim background and that he is a strong associate of President Bola Tinubu and the ruling party, which often plays on religious loyalties in Nigeria.

Watch the video here. 

MC Oluomo‘s commitment to Islam was highly publicized during the 2023 election season, when videos of him performing Hajj rites and fervently clutching the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, appeared online. His sudden, high-profile participation in a Christian service has therefore triggered debates about political figures engaging in cross-faith activities.

With the video making rounds and causing controversy, the Nigerian political and social figures attending religious events outside of their professed faith is not new.

Many political leaders engage in different communities to demonstrate solidarity and inclusivity and to appeal to diverse constituencies in a religiously diverse nation like Nigeria.

MC Oluomo has previously been seen attending events at other Christian institutions, such as when he danced at an event hosted by Rev. Esther Ajayi, another prominent figure linked to the Celestial Church movement.

With the viral nature of the recent clip, it has intensified the debate on the appropriate boundary between political engagement and faith-based gatherings.