A Rejoinder to the Reckless and Divisive Utterances of Primate Ayodele

A Rejoinder to the Reckless and Divisive Utterances of Primate Ayodele

By Umar Ardo, Ph.D

My attention has been drawn to a recent video clip by Primate Elijah Ayodele, the self-styled leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, in which he warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against appointing Nigerians of Fulani extraction into sensitive positions of government. The so-called cleric alleged that such appointments would lead to betrayal, “shock” and “pain” for the President.

2. Ordinarily, such careless talk would not merit a response. But coming from a man who parades himself as a priest and who commands attention of gullible followers, silence would amount to condoning falsehood, bigotry and dangerous incitement.

3. Let it be said without equivocation that Primate Ayodele’s postulation is historically false, morally reprehensible and nationally destabilising. As a historian, I know that Nigeria’s history does not support Ayodele’s sweeping generalisation. Fulani men and women have served this country with distinction, loyalty and sacrifice. From Sir Ahmadu Bello, who built Northern Nigeria into a model of governance, to General Murtala Muhammad, who sacrificed his life for the sake of the country, to numerous other academics, technocrats, administrators and military officers who equally gave their all for the unity and wellbeing of this country, the record speaks for itself. Betrayals and failures in leadership have never been a portion of the Fulani people. We are a people of honour and excellence!

4. What Ayodele is preaching is simply ethnic bigotry, fulbephobia and fulbemisia disguised as prophecy. For a so-called man of God to single out an ethnic group and brand them as inherently untrustworthy is shameful, hypocritical and unchristian. Religious leaders are called to reconcile and inspire, not to incite and divide. If it is wrong to stereotype the Yoruba or the Igbo, or any other tribe for that matter, it is equally wrong to stereotype the Fulani. The double standard exposes the hypocrisy behind his so-called prophecy.

5. Such utterances are not prophecy; they are poisonous threat to national unity! At a time when Nigeria is struggling to mend the fractures of ethnicity, religion and mistrust, Primate Ayodele’s words only widen divisions and sow seeds of resentment. To suggest that competence and loyalty can only be judged by tribe is to undermine the very foundation of a united Nigeria.

6. ⁠Appointments into government should never be guided by ethnic suspicion. They must be anchored on merit, integrity, competence and loyalty to the Nigerian state. Every community in this country has patriots and opportunists; the task of leadership is to identify the former, not to demonise entire peoples.

7. ⁠I therefore call on all Nigerians, especially leaders of thought and faith, to reject and condemn such divisive rhetoric. We must rise above ethnic prejudices if we are to build a republic founded on justice, equity, and competence. Primate Ayodele owes the nation, and particularly the Fulani, an unreserved apology. His words are not from God; they are from the vault of human bigotry. Nigeria cannot afford such dangerous counsel from its pulpits. He should be ashamed of himself! He is a disgrace to the Cassock he is wearing.