Primate Elijah Ayodele has reacted to reports of military threats against Nigeria over alleged killings of Christians.
The cleric advised President Bola Tinubu on how to respond, warning him against seeking favours from the United States government.
Speaking on the situation, the Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church urged the Nigerian President to avoid placing himself in a weak position before the U.S. and its former president, Donald Trump.
According to him, Tinubu must take decisive steps to secure the country rather than run abroad for help.
Ayodele recalled that he issued warnings before Tinubu took office, saying insecurity would become a major challenge for his administration if not handled swiftly. He insisted that the matter now requires urgent attention to avoid long-term political consequences, especially ahead of 2027.
He warned that going to plead with the U.S. would not solve Nigeria’s problems, adding that foreign powers may have hidden motives.
“Don’t travel to go and beg Trump; he wants to make money. Tinubu shouldn’t be at his mercy; rather, he should go to God and work well on insecurity.”
The prophet argued that the US is using the crisis as leverage and that Tinubu must act wisely.
“I have said that insecurity will cost his government a lot; all he needs to do is wake up and ensure he tackles security well.”
According to him, the outcry over genocide is only a cover for deeper interests and negotiations over Nigeria’s resources.
“The matter of Nigeria is beyond genocide. Tinubu isn’t Trump’s friend from the onset, and what the US wants to do is negotiate with Tinubu for Nigeria’s resources.”
Ayodele stressed that the president must be cautious with any options presented by foreign countries.
“This matter needs to be addressed with patience because they will give Tinubu different options, but he must not do the wrong thing,” he added.
The cleric also emphasized that Nigeria’s challenges must be solved internally, not through reliance on foreign leaders.
“It is only Nigeria that can solve its problems; a stranger can’t solve problems for Nigeria. Trump isn’t God; he just wants to make money. He is an oppressor.”
He maintained that if the United States truly had noble intentions, it would work with Nigeria collaboratively instead of issuing threats.
“If the US has a genuine mission, they should work with the Nigerian government; the threat was unnecessary.”
