INRI leader questions lavish overseas trips by Nigerian clergy, urges focus on local charity and converting 'witches and wizards'
Primate Elijah Ayodele, the outspoken leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has launched a scathing critique of Nigerian pastors who frequently travel abroad for revival programmes, questioning the spiritual and financial wisdom of such expeditions.
Speaking during a recent church outreach event, Ayodele argued that foreign crusades often serve personal comfort rather than genuine evangelistic purpose.
"If I have N500,000, instead of buying a jet and going to America for revival, I will use it to help people here," he said. "Going to America for revival is a lie. All these pastors going to America to do revival, why can't they go to the camp of witches and wizards and convert them? Going to America is a pleasure, not a sacrifice."
Lifestyle vs. Doctrine
The cleric, known for his controversial prophecies on national and global affairs, also criticized the ostentatious lifestyle of some religious leaders, urging them to practice what they preach.
"What informs me is that people come to church hungry, and I have the money to feed them. It is not about the houses you build or the money you keep in the bank. If you die, someone else will wear your clothes and live in your house," Ayodele said. "As a pastor, what you preach must be what you practise. That is common sense."
Assessing Tinubu's Performance
Ayodele also weighed in on the performance of President Bola Tinubu, offering a mixed assessment. He described the administration as better than those of former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan but claimed the president suffers from a public perception problem.
"Tinubu has done well for Nigerians, but the problem is that Nigerians hate him," Ayodele said. "Those surrounding him don't want him for a second term. He needs to wake up, restrategise, and change his agenda."
The cleric cited infrastructure projects, particularly the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and road developments around the Ajah axis in Lagos, as evidence of progress under Tinubu's administration.
"I passed through the Coastal Road. From that point, you will be in Calabar in 4 hours, rather than 18 to 22 hours. Around Ajah, the movement is faster. For that reason, Tinubu has done well," he said.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a flagship project of the Tinubu administration, is expected to span over 700 kilometres across nine coastal states. However, critics have raised concerns about its cost, transparency, and environmental impact.
Ayodele urged the president to review his policies and political strategy to secure broader public support, warning that his inner circle may not have his best interests at heart.
A Broader Critique of Leadership
Ayodele's remarks touched on governance more broadly, accusing many political leaders of prioritizing luxury over public welfare—though he did not name specific individuals.
The cleric's comments come amid ongoing national debates about both political and religious leadership in Nigeria, with critics often pointing to the lavish lifestyles of some clergy as inconsistent with their teachings of humility and sacrifice.
By calling on pastors to redirect resources toward local needs—and even to the unconventional mission of converting "witches and wizards"—Ayodele has reignited conversations about what genuine spiritual leadership should look like in contemporary Nigeria.
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