David Ibiyeomie, the presiding pastor of Salvation Ministries in Rivers State, has stirred controversy by claiming that his prayers prevented American rapper 50 Cent from performing in Port Harcourt on the same day he held a crusade. In a now-viral video, the pastor shared how he believed his divine intervention altered the rapper’s travel plans, ultimately causing him to return to the United States.
Pastor Ibiyeomie’s Prayer Stops 50 Cent’s Concert in Port Harcourt
According to Ibiyeomie, 50 Cent’s planned visit to Port Harcourt for a concert had been widely promoted. However, the pastor was adamant that the event could not take place on the same day as his own crusade, a significant event in his ministry. He stated that he prayed against the rapper’s concert, confident that with divine backing, the event would not go forward.
“When 50 Cent was at his peak, he was scheduled to come to Port Harcourt, and on the same day, I had a crusade. I knew that if he came, even believers would attend his concert, so I prayed,” Ibiyeomie shared with his congregation.
The Divine Intervention: A Twist of Fate
Ibiyeomie continued to explain that despite the concert being heavily advertised and 50 Cent already in Lagos preparing to fly to Port Harcourt, the rapper encountered problems that prevented him from reaching the city. The pastor attributed the rapper’s sudden change of plans to the “power of his spoken word,” emphasizing that his prayer had successfully blocked the rapper’s arrival.
“He had already been booked and the event was widely advertised, and I said that if he came, then God did not call me, that he would not come. The humbling part is that he got to Lagos to fly to Port Harcourt but encountered issues. The word had gone forth, so he had to return to America, and people who had bought tickets ended up attending the crusade,” Ibiyeomie said.
50 Cent’s Previous Visit to Nigeria
This wasn’t the first time 50 Cent was scheduled to perform in Nigeria. In 2004, the rapper had planned to perform in Port Harcourt as part of the Star Mega Jams concert series. However, his visit was abruptly cut short after a confrontation with Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem over seating arrangements on a Lagos-bound flight. The altercation led to the rapper and his crew returning to the United States without performing.
The Power of Prayer: A Humbling Moment for Ibiyeomie
The claim has sparked debate among followers and critics alike, with many questioning the role of prayer in influencing real-world events. Ibiyeomie, however, remains confident that his prayers played a central role in preventing 50 Cent’s concert, which he believes would have diverted attention from his own ministry’s event.
The pastor’s bold statement has reignited conversations about the intersection of faith, celebrity influence, and the power of prayer, particularly in a country where both religion and music are central to many people’s lives.
