Jerry Roll’s Grammys Speech Reminds of Freshly-minted President Buhari -By Ugochukwu Ugwuanyi

Just like “fuel subsidy is gone” announcement dominated discourse post inauguration ceremony of President Bola Tinubu, what trended from his predecessor’s swearing in was arguably the: “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody” proclamation. That was a classic doublespeak – an oxymoronic expression. The illusive statement makes you an offer with one hand and retrieves it with the other. Nigerians who cognitively lived through that administration can draw inferences whether President Muhammadu Buhari was just dissembling. He was perhaps intimating his intention to be even-handed, non-committal, aloof or merely riding the wave of widespread national sentiment.

The ambiguity of that remark that headlined Buhari’s May 29, 2015 outing at the Eagle Square in Abuja never dawned on me until I heard its recent reiteration. What I consider the authentic iteration came from the least likely of places – Grammy Awards night! The Breakpoint article entitled “Satan shows up at the Grammys” offers insight into why the August gathering is an unlikely purveyor of the Truth. At the 68th Grammy Awards held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Sam Smith and Kim Petras performed a live rendition of their award-winning single “Unholy” which the far right and conspiracy theorists called a satanic ritual. A Daily Mail report entitled “’Literally a tribute to Satan’: Viewers slam Sam Smith over ‘demonic’ Grammys performance…” read in part, “After Smith – who is non-binary and uses gender neutral pronouns – was seen wearing satanic headgear in the horror movie-inspired performance, viewers flocked to social media to share their frustrations about the ‘demonic’ themes.”

Similarly, a report by Daily Express of the UK has this headline “Grammys viewers ‘switch off’ as viewers rage at ‘woke’ 2026 ceremony”. Regardless, it was from the same global stage that the truth billowed this past Sunday. Mindful of the setting and how uncomfortable his speech would make organisers and attendees, the truth teller began by saying: “I know they’re gonna try to kick me off here, so just let me try to get this out.” That was how Jelly Roll delved into preaching after winning Best Contemporary Country Album for his 2024 album, Beautifully Broken, Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song with Brandon Lake for “Hard Fought Hallelujah” and Best Country Duo/Group Performance with Shaboozey for “Amen.”

At the live show streamed by millions across the world, the 41-year-old singer born Jason Bradley DeFord credited Jesus and his “beautiful wife,” former OnlyFans star, Alisa, for changing his life. While other musicians used the epoch event to drop F bombs, tantrums and virtue signal about the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Jelly Roll said, “I want to tell y’all right now, Jesus is for everybody. Jesus is not owned by one political party. Jesus is not owned by no music label. Jesus is Jesus, and anybody can have a relationship with Him. I love you, Lord.”

You see, it would have been just enough for the late Buhari to declare at the outset of his civilian rule that he’s for everybody. He must have felt the need to reiterate that he belongs to nobody to douse widespread allegations of nepotism and parochialism dogging him. Yet by the time he was handing over the reins, Nigerians knew his personality better with the benefit of hindsight. Conversely, there is no shadow of doubt or subterfuge whatsoever in the “Jesus is for everybody” statement. It is such a truism that Jesus would have replied Jerry like he did Peter in Matthew 16:17, “this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.”

The Lord Jesus is so available that he is Access personified. One of the wonders that defined His death on the cross was the shredding of the thick veil in the Jerusalem Temple which separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. (Matthew 27:51). That supernatural tearing of the curtain from top to bottom allows anyone and everyone access to the Almighty! Jesus is also very much available that a wise man would observe that all of His actions and words in the Bible can be summarised into the word: “Come”!

When Jerry Roll says, “Jesus is not owned by one political party. Jesus is not owned by no music label,” that is also a candid iteration of “I belong to nobody.” Even while under the control of his parents, Jesus didn’t join his kin as they were returning to Nazareth following the Feast of Passover in Jerusalem. (Luke 2:41-52). As his earthly ministry took off, Jesus differed significantly with the Pharisees, but that didn’t stop him from going to teach in their temple in Matthew 12. While at it and his immediate family came calling, here’s what transpired according to verses 47-50: “Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!”

Although this scripture seems to suggest his disciples as Jesus’s “political party” or “music label”, it isn’t an exclusive group but open to “whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Matthew 12:50). This validates the Grammy recipient’s point that anybody can have a relationship with Jesus! His handiness is such that the Pharisees and teachers of the law criticised Christ for eating with tax collectors and sinners, questioning why he had no qualms associating with social and religious outcasts. (Matthew 9:10-17).

The Lord Jesus was even ready to go and perform miracle in the home of the self-confessed sinful Roman Centurion, who out of guilt, told him: “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof…” This Jesus doesn’t wait for you to initiate the relationship; He reaches out once you’re ready to accept Him. He is like that father in Luke 15:20 who while his prodigal “son was still a long way off, saw him and was filled with compassion for him; ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him”. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus declared, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

While it is accurate that anyone can have a relationship with Jesus, such a relationship must be true because imposters won’t get away with fakery or religion on the Judgment Day. Matthew 7:22-23 reads, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” The Lord knows those who are His. To be guaranteed a spot in His Kingdom, you’ve got to do the will of God now!

VIS Ugochukwu, a Sage, Storyteller and Media Trainer, attends to feedback on X @sylvesugwuanyi