NEWS
LOWERCASE ‘MR’ IGNITES FIRESTORM: RCCG YOUTH PASTOR PLACES 11PM ‘DEATH CURSE’ ON UK-BASED WOMAN OVER TITLE DISPUTE, X USERS TURN SHOWDOWN INTO MEME FEST
A dramatic social media confrontation has set Nigerian X (formerly Twitter) ablaze after a youth pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) publicly pronounced a death curse on a UK-based woman for repeatedly referring to him as “mr” in lowercase instead of acknowledging his self-declared “Dr” title.
The incident, which unfolded earlier today, has drawn thousands of reactions, ranging from disbelief and satire to outrage, as Nigerians watched the escalating exchange in real time.
The controversy began when Pastor Bola Abiodun, identified on X as @b_abiodun4, took exception to being addressed as “mr” by UK-based Tomisin (@tomisin_ms), a health and safety professional and mother. Abiodun, whose bio describes him as a husband, father of four, and a first-class honors graduate from “Lamba University” in Yola, Nigeria, quickly corrected her.
“I’m a ‘Dr’, not a ‘Mr’. Don’t refer to me as MR again. I’m not your mate.”
Rather than apologize, Tomisin responded with a playful but provocative retort: “mr with the small m.” What followed was a volley of posts in which she repeatedly typed “mr” in successive replies, appearing to mock the pastor’s insistence on formal recognition.
As the exchange intensified, Abiodun warned her about the spiritual implications of her actions, invoking scripture and asserting his spiritual authority.
“I’m anointed man of god. I can curse you now and it’ll take effect for the rest of your lives. Bible says touch not my anointed and do my prophet no harm. Try me and see. I’m a messenger from god.”
He further described himself as a “dangerous man” whose “tongue carries fire,” adding that he was restraining himself from issuing a lifelong curse out of pity. Unmoved, Tomisin fired back:
“I’m bored now, when are you going to show me how dangerous you are mr bola abiodun?”
The situation reached a dramatic peak when the pastor formally declared what he described as a timed curse.
“I, Pastor Dr Bola Abiodun, hereby pronounce a curse on u that if you don’t retract & apologize for not calling me by my appropriate titles, u shall pass on to glory in your sleep at 11pm on 23rd Feb, ’26. If you wake up tomorrow morning then I’m not a man of God& I’m a bastard.”
He doubled down shortly afterward, writing:
“Please nobody should beg me on behalf of this girl o. She disrespected me and I’ve placed a curse on her. No one can mess with my anointing and go scot free.”
With the 11pm deadline approaching—10pm GMT in the United Kingdom where Tomisin resides. The thread has since transformed into a viral spectacle. Users began counting down the hours, with one commenting, “3 hrs 49 minutes to go ,” while another joked, “Everybody say merlin .”
Religious commentators also joined the debate. One user wrote, “Dear MR Abiodun, do you know you cannot curse a man whom Jesus hung on the cross for Your curse is causeless.” Another criticized the pastor’s conduct: “Pastor for bible dey preach. Apostle’s dey raise dead. But see pastor here dey curse member. Doctor wey suppose treat sick won kill person. Mr biodun oga o.”
Tomisin has not retracted her statements or issued an apology. Her last visible activity on the thread was hours before the stated deadline, leaving many users watching closely to see what unfolds.
One commenter even turned the tables on the cleric, writing, “If 11pm knack and nothing do this girl I go too curse you Dr Mr Bola Abiodun .”
Beyond the humor and online banter, the episode has ignited wider conversations about the culture of titles within Nigerian religious and academic spaces. Critics argue that the heated exchange reflects a troubling emphasis on personal prestige over humility, especially within Christian leadership circles that traditionally preach love, restraint, and forgiveness.
While Abiodun’s profile highlights his academic achievement and role within RCCG’s Christ the Rock Parish, many observers contend that the spectacle risks undermining the moral authority associated with pastoral office.
As Nigerians await the outcome of the pastor’s ultimatum, what began as a lowercase “mr” has evolved into a national talking point, raising questions not only about social media conduct, but also about ego, authority, and
accountability in the digital age.