Prophet Maseke Daniels has distributed 5,000 bags of rice to residents of Plateau State to cushion the effects of economic hardship, pledging to sustain and expand the initiative annually.

The cleric said the intervention was driven by his religious convictions and commitment to helping the less privileged, insisting that it was not politically motivated.

“God is my source of funding,” Prophet Maseke told journalists when asked how he financed the distribution.

He disclosed that the exercise was the second edition of the initiative, following the distribution of 2,000 bags of rice in the previous year.

According to him, the 5,000 bags distributed this year were allocated to different groups, with 2,000 bags for Muslims, 2,000 for Christians and 1,000 for members of his church.

“When something is a command, you don't have a choice. I've been commanded to do this. It's something I will do for the rest of my life,” he said.

Prophet Maseke said he intended to increase the number of beneficiaries in subsequent years, adding that public criticism would not discourage him from continuing the intervention.

“Even if I got bad feedback, I would have still done this because it's not about the people, it's about God who commanded me to do this,” he said.

Addressing the beneficiaries, the cleric said his personal experience of poverty and hunger had inspired his commitment to supporting vulnerable people.

He recalled that his family struggled to afford food during his childhood, saying he understood the pain of going hungry for several days.

“I know what it means to be hungry. I know what it means to pretend as if you have eaten. I know what it means to go hungry for three, four, five days,” he said.
Prophet Maseke recounted how nine members of his family once shared five measures of garri, praying that the food would swell enough to feed them.

“I've seen us, nine of us, buy five derica garri and pray in tongues and fast and pray and pray that that garri should swell for us to eat,” he said.

He urged the beneficiaries to extend similar assistance to others when they became financially capable, expressing the hope that they would organise comparable charitable initiatives in their communities.

“My prayer for you is that one day, you will in turn gather a multitude like this and do the same thing that I'm doing right now,” he said.

The cleric also called for religious tolerance, insisting that assistance to people in need should not be determined by their religious affiliations.

He said the biblical injunction to love one's neighbour applied to everyone, irrespective of whether they were Christians or Muslims.

“The Bible did not say, ‘Love thy Muslim neighbour’ or ‘Love thy Christian neighbour.’ It says, ‘Love thy neighbour,’” he said.

Prophet Maseke argued that people did not ordinarily consider religious differences when seeking emergency assistance, conducting business or asking neighbours for help.

He said his charitable activities were guided by the belief that humanity should take precedence over religious divisions.

“That is why we pay school fees for people without asking their religion. That's why we give food without asking their religion,” he said.

He criticised religious teachings that promote the condemnation of people based on their beliefs, arguing that genuine religion should encourage compassion and care for others.

“Any religion that preaches condemnation of any man is not a true religion,” he said.

Prophet Maseke also expressed optimism about the future of Plateau State, Nigeria and Africa, praying for peace and prosperity.

He dismissed suggestions that the rice distribution was connected to political interests, maintaining that the initiative was solely motivated by his religious convictions.

“It is not politically initiated, not politically inclined, and will never be politically inclined,” he said.

The cleric declined to detail other charitable interventions he had undertaken, explaining that he preferred to help people without publicising his activities.

“I just want to do it, forget it, and move to the next thing,” he said.

The distribution comes amid economic difficulties in Nigeria, with rising living costs continuing to put pressure on household incomes and making it increasingly difficult for many families to afford basic food items.