Primate Ayodele Warns Against Violence for Politicians

Primate Elijah Ayodele, the leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, cautioned Nigerians against sacrificing their lives for politicians, stating that political actors frequently use individuals for their gain and abandon them post-elections. In a TikTok video uploaded on Monday, Ayodele advised particularly young Nigerians to resist manipulation into violence during elections.

He pointed out that despite the apparent rivalry among political supporters, politicians such as Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar maintain friendships. Ayodele warned that supporters who engage in violence for politicians would ultimately face the repercussions alone.

He urged Nigerians not to fight over political figures, as they often reconcile after elections. He criticized politicians for exploiting religious leaders and questioned whether they would expose their families to the dangers they encourage their supporters to face.

Ayodele emphasized the importance of caution for young Nigerians entering politics and discouraged blind praise or defense of politicians at the expense of their safety.