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Catholic Priest Knocks Primate Ayodele over Uncomplimentary Remarks Against Igbo

Published

3 months ago

November 19, 2025

Eric

Brazil-based Catholic missionary priest, Rev. Fr. Chinaka Justin Mbaeri, has criticised the Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, over comments he allegedly made about the Igbo.

In a post on Facebook on Tuesday, Mbaeri described Ayodele as a “tribal bigot” and urged the Federal Government to hold him accountable for statements he said were capable of inciting ethnic tension.

The priest faulted Ayodele’s alleged claim that Igbo people were under a “curse” and needed to “cleanse” themselves before they could attain the presidency, saying such remarks were reckless and amounted to hate-leaning speech against an ethnic group.

According to Mbaeri, the comments promote negative stereotypes and undermine national unity at a time when religious leaders should be advocating peace and cohesion.

The cleric also questioned Ayodele’s credibility, alleging that the cleric was resorting to inflammatory remarks in search of relevance following “many failed prophecies.”

Mbaeri expressed concern for Ayodele’s congregation, insisting that a leader who makes such ethnic statements from the pulpit requires “correction and accountability.”

He wrote: “Another tribal bigot that the Federal Government ought to arrest is this so-called Primate Ayodele!

“At a time like this when religious leaders should be working for national healing, calming ethnic tensions, and teaching unity, this one is busy throwing petrol into the fire and spreading ethnic hostility under the cover of “prophecy.”

“This same man publicly declared that the Igbo people are under a “curse” and that until they “cleanse” themselves, the presidency will always elude them. Imagine that level of recklessness. Instead of addressing real issues like capacity, competence, electoral systems, or national policies, he reduces an entire ethnic group to some imaginary spiritual defect. This tribal profiling derives itself from religion and prophecy.

“Who even gave him the authority to tag over 40 million Nigerians as “cursed”? What he did fits the exact definition of hate-leaning speech aimed at an ethnic group. After many failed prophecies of his and with the thoughts of not gaining relevance, he believes that spewing hate speeches would give him clout?

“The implication of such a statement is dangerous because it feeds division, poisons minds and makes one tribe look inferior or disqualified from national leadership, thus, promoting negative stereotypes. And because it comes from someone calling himself a “spiritual leader,” people who don’t know better may take it seriously.

“Honestly, I pity his congregation. How can people listen to this kind of talk every week and still think they’re receiving direction? A leader who stands on a pulpit to insult an entire ethnic group needs correction, accountability, not microphone privileges.

“Nigeria is already struggling with enough tension. The last thing we need is another man in a religious attire dragging hatred into public discourse. If he wants to do politics, let him join a party. If he wants to talk spirituality and act like a seer, let him leave ethnicity out of it. But to stand on a platform and say the Igbo people are blocked from leadership because of “a curse” is sheer irresponsibility.

“He should face the consequences of his words, because sentiments like this have torn nations apart. Enough is enough!”

Featured

Tinubu Nominates Oyedele As Minister of State for Finance, Moves Anite-Uzoka to Budget Ministry

Published

4 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, has announced that “President Bola Tinubu has nominated Taiwo Oyedele as the minister of state for finance, replacing Doris Anite-Uzoka.

“Mrs Anite-Uzoka will now move to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, as the Minister of State, her third portfolio in the administration.

“President Tinubu has today conveyed the nomination of Mr Oyedele to the Senate for confirmation in a letter to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

“Until President Tinubu nominated him as a minister, Mr Oyedele from Ikaram, Akoko, Ondo State, was the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, which overhauled Nigeria’s tax system.

“Mr Oyedele, 50, is an economist, accountant and public policy expert.

“He attended Yaba College of Technology, where he obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in accountancy and finance. He attended Oxford Brookes University and earned a BSc in applied accounting.

“He also completed executive education programmes at the London School of Economics, Yale University, the Gordon Institute of Business Science, and the Harvard Kennedy School.

“Mr Oyedele spent 22 years of his working career at PwC, joining in 2001 and rising to become the Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader.

“Mr Oyedele is also a professor at Babcock University in Ogun State and a visiting scholar at the Lagos Business School.”

Featured

Defection: Atiku’s Son, Adamu, Resigns As Adamawa Commissioner

Published

9 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

Adamu Abubakar, the first son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has resigned as Adamawa State’s commissioner for works and energy development, days after Governor Ahmadu Fintiri defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

Abubakar’s resignation letter, dated 2 March 2026, was addressed to the governor through the Secretary to the State Government. He gave no reason for his departure.

The timing is pointed. Fintiri announced his defection to the APC in a statewide broadcast last Friday, saying his cabinet and the PDP’s state structure had moved with him. Within 24 hours, 22 commissioners and special advisers publicly announced they were following suit. Abubakar, whose father remains one of the PDP’s most prominent national figures, was not among them.

In a statement issued Monday night, Abubakar’s media aide Abdulaziz Jauro said the former commissioner thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve and pledged continued loyalty to the administration’s developmental agenda. He also expressed gratitude to his father “for granting him the moral support and blessing to serve the people of Adamawa State” — a line that, read in context, suggests Atiku was consulted on the decision.

Abubakar said his resignation was not a withdrawal from public life. “This does not mark the end of his commitment to public service,” the statement read, “but rather the beginning of new avenues for developmental collaboration.”

The resignation leaves unresolved the question of whether it reflects a political break with the governor over his defection or a personal decision unconnected to the broader party realignment now reshaping Adamawa’s political landscape.

Featured

DSS Nabs Man over Assassination Attempt on Peter Obi

Published

11 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has detained a man in connection with the recent attack and alleged assassination threats targeting Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

According to AIT, the shooting incident took place on February 24, 2026, in Benin City, Edo State, during a political gathering attended by Obi and several figures from the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The meeting was hosted by former APC National Chairman, John Oyegun. Gunmen reportedly opened fire at the venue, causing panic and forcing attendees to disperse for safety.

According to security sources, shortly after the attack, an individual identified as Udeme Monday Stephen allegedly took to social media claiming responsibility and issuing additional threats against Obi, warning of further violence.

Intelligence officials reportedly initiated swift investigations, employing digital tracing and forensic tools that led to the arrest of the 26-year-old suspect in Rivers State. He is said to be a teacher at a private secondary school in the Eliozu area of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area.

The suspect remains in DSS custody and is expected to face prosecution. The agency reiterated its commitment to responding to credible threats and safeguarding lives and national interests without bias.