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“When a thing ceases to be a subject of controversy, it ceases to be a subject of interest.”
—William Hazlitt
By Enyeribe Ejiogu
Liberians are still seething with rage weeks after Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele made a prophetic statement about their country.
This was in the midst of the wailing and vigil prayers that came in the wake of the mass abduction of school children in Oyo State, which happened on May 15, 2026.
Then bang, Primate Ayodele made a statement that was adjudged by Liberians and other nationals to be controversial on June 6, 2026. It was like detonating a diplomatic bomb.
In a video message, Primate Ayodele stated that Liberia would face severe economic hardship and political crisis that could lead to the toppling of the administration of President Joseph Boakai in a military coup.
He said: “Liberian President Boakai and Vice President Vice President Jeremiah Koung will fight a dirty fight. Don’t expect a better economy. Expect more hardship. Liberia, your president is confused. If they don’t even plan a coup against you, your government is going to be very tough. The man is tired. Why can’t he resign?”
Incensed by the comments, Liberia reacted in a swift and sharp manner through its embassy in Abuja.
Promptly, it lodged a formal complaint with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the diplomatic complaint, the Liberian government drew attention to Primate Ayodele’s alleged recurring negative prophecies, stressing that they constituted a significant threat to diplomatic relations between the two ECOWAS countries in addition to fuelling negative sentiments against Nigeria.
Seemingly cocksure, Ayodele waved off the complaint, dug in his boots and poured more fuel on the raging fire by pointedly saying that President Boakai should focus on solving the problems that have beset Liberia instead of chasing shadows in a losing battle of fighting prophets, declaring that Boakai would lose his re-election bid.
Not satisfied with that, he threatened the Liberia Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah with a US$2 billion lawsuit for defamation and demanded proof of the allegations made by the minister linking him to alleged illicit drug circles during the presidency of George Weah.
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It is noteworthy that Liberiagate did not just spring from nowhere. Previously, Ayodele had correctly predicted Weah’s election loss in 2023. For him to later prophesy in February 2025 that former President George Weah would stage a political comeback and win the presidency, on account of economic downturn, hardship and confusion leading up to the 2029 election, expectedly rattled the President Boakai administration.
While a large population of people in Nigeria and around the world have deep regard for the prophecies of Primate Ayodele, many sceptics have come to view his annual predictions, usually published in a book form, as providing mostly comic relief in these times of economic hardship.
In the private confines of the premises of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, he regularly triggers personalities, states and even nations, by making declaratory statements about them, often couched in language that provide enough wiggle room for elastic interpretation, when the predicted incident does not pan out as first presented.
Marketing and perception management strategist, Joseph Johnson, while commenting on the predictions of the Primate, said he has learnt “from past experience to take what he says these days with a pinch of salt,” adding: “Primate Ayodele dabbles too much into politics and various issues that have little bearing to the ministry of the gospel. He should just remove his cassock and join politics.”
Back home, Ayodele has had occasion in recent times to stir the political hornet nest when he spoke about the former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso in one of his messages. Kwankwaso felt defamed by a comment allegedly made by Ayodele and consequently threatened a N10 billion lawsuit.
The Primate denied the allegations in a statement by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, saying that he had no intention to defame Kwankwaso or attack any politician
Stressing that his prophecy came from God and was not influenced by any personal issue with Kwankwaso, he said: “It has come to my attention that the former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has alleged that I wrongly accused him in my recent prophecy concerning his political ambition.
“I wish to state clearly that the purpose of my prophecies has never been to defame, malign, or attack anyone’s personality. I only speak based on what I receive from the throne of God.
Eventually, Kwankwaso emerged as the 2027 presidential running mate of the Nigeria Democratic Party, NDC and former Anambra State Governor, Mr Peter Obi.
Looking at Ayodele’s precedents, and citing United States President Donald Trump as a perfect example, Johnson posits that some personalities over time tend to become adept in the art of attention-grabbing, saying, “We live in an age of sensation. If you don’t shock people, they don’t look at you. You find that such individuals seem to delight in controversy. That is why the US President loves to create news, hug headlines, inject himself into news cycles, always seeking to be the spotlight except it does not favour his carefully sculptured image. When a sustained news cycle does not favour him, he will create a distraction.
Primate Ayodele’s INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church is very small compared to the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, but it makes the news every so often.”
For all the controversial prophecies associated with him, one fact that cannot be ignored is that he has made extensive humanitarian and philanthropic impact. His charity works are carefully targeted at vulnerable groups, church members, and the wider community. These include the INRI Widows Foundation & Vulnerable Support which provides consistent financial support, food items, and clothing to widows, orphans, and the elderly; massive annual giveaways during significant milestones in his life – birthday, mid-year thanksgivings. On such occasions he distributes life-changing items to the less privileged, including mattresses, freezers, televisions, and sewing machines to help people start small businesses. He awards scholarships, which covers the fees for major exams like WAEC and JAMB. His ministry actively supports students with disabilities, who are in higher educational institutions. One case in point was the donation of ₦2 million to disabled students at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), to sustain their academic endeavour. Primate Ayodele’s ministry runs a subsidized foodstuff market which has gone a long way to mitigate the impact of inflation on the vulnerable people.
He also provides financial assistance for individuals facing severe health crises. This includes large-scale personal donations for critical procedures, such as a ₦10 million donation to a member of the church to have a kidney transplant surgery that cost N40 million. He rallied additional support with his connections, among other forms of humanitarian assistance.
