Nigerian hip-hop star Tobechukwu Melvin Ejiofor, popularly known as Illbliss, has shared a rather thought-provoking encounter with an elderly man during a recent morning mass.

The ‘Emi Ni Baller’ crooner took to his X handle (formerly Twitter) to narrate the incident, which left him pondering deeply about the state of the nation.

According to Illbliss, while reciting the ‘Prayer for Nigeria’ during mass, the elderly man sitting beside him smiled afterward and made a shocking remark:

“That’s a total waste of prayer time with God. You can’t Mock God.”

The statement clearly left Illbliss surprised and troubled. In his post, he acknowledged the hardship, insecurity, and bad governance that Nigerians are enduring, giving a shoutout to everyone struggling to survive under the challenging conditions.

He wrote:

“Shoutout to everyone surviving Nigeria. I was in morning mass today reciting ‘Prayer for Nigeria’ and the elderly man next to me smiled afterwards and said to me, ‘That’s a total waste of prayer time with God. You can’t Mock God.’”

Opinion: A Reflection of Frustration or A Cry for Change?

Illbliss’s encounter is a clear reflection of the frustration many Nigerians feel about the state of the nation. For someone to outrightly dismiss praying for Nigeria as a “waste of prayer time” suggests a deep sense of hopelessness and disappointment.

The elderly man’s statement is not just a dismissal of prayer but also a challenge to those in positions of power who have continuously failed to improve the welfare of ordinary Nigerians. It’s a sentiment that has been echoed by many who feel that prayer alone cannot solve the country’s problems—rather, sincere efforts towards good governance and accountability are needed.

However, while the man’s perspective may come off as harsh, it also raises an important question: Is it truly wrong to pray for Nigeria’s progress, or should citizens be combining prayer with practical actions toward positive change?

Illbliss’s experience should not be brushed aside as mere cynicism but rather seen as a call for deeper reflection. It’s a reminder that beyond prayers, genuine efforts from both leaders and citizens are crucial to fixing what is broken in the nation.

What do you think? Is the elderly man right to say such a thing, or is prayer still a powerful tool for Nigeria’s redemption?