Tonto Dikeh has responded to criticism from members of the public who condemned her for conducting a deliverance session on a schoolgirl without the consent of the child’s parents.
The actress, who now identifies as an evangelist, recently visited a school in the Federal Capital Territory to preach to students. During the visit, she prayed for a schoolgirl and carried out a deliverance session while the girl lay on the floor and was restrained.
The incident quickly generated mixed reactions on social media. While some people accused the actress of mistreating the student, others praised her for trying to help the child spiritually.
Amid the backlash, Dikeh took to her Instagram page where she shared a photo of herself and addressed the controversy in the caption. She explained that she would rather face ridicule than stop proclaiming the name of the one who saved her.
In her response, she wrote:
“THE ASSIGNMENT GOD HAS PLACED UPON ME IS TOO IMPORTANT TO GET DISTRACTED.
MY EYES ARE ON JESUS AND HE NEEDS NO ONE TO DEFEND HIS NAME.
I, EVANGELIST TONTO DIKEH, WOULD RATHER BE MOCKED, RIDICULED OR EVEN SLAIN THAN SILENCE THE NAME OF THE ONE WHO SAVED ME. I REFUSE TO HIDE GOD TO PROTECT MY IMAGE BEFORE MERE MORTALS.
IF IT COMES TO IT, I WILL WEAR MOCKERY LIKE PERFUME AND CARRY REPROACH LIKE A CROWN, BECAUSE HE IS WORTH IT ALL.
I LOVE YOU ALL (THE GOOD, THE UGLY AND THE BAD).
THE WORLD IS NOT FIGHTING ME; THE KINGDOM OF HELL IS, AND I UNDERSTAND THIS.
SO NO HATE OVER HERE. WE BATTLE ON OUR KNEES IN PRAYER. THAT’S WHERE TRUE STRENGTH IS FORGED AND TRUE VICTORIES ARE WON.”