Primate Elijah Ayodele, leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has issued a severe warning to President Bola Tinubu, stating Nigeria is still in a state of distress.
This statement comes in response to Tinubu’s recent claim that his administration’s reforms have stopped the nation’s bleeding.
Primate Ayodele, through a statement released by his Media Aide, Oluwatosin Osho, refuted the President’s optimistic outlook, stating that those surrounding Tinubu are deceiving him about the true state of the nation.
He emphasized that the economic hardships faced by ordinary Nigerians are intensifying, not abating.
“Nigeria is still bleeding,” Ayodele stated unequivocally. “While this crisis may not directly impact the wealthy, everyday citizens are in immense pain due to the worsening economic conditions.”
Ayodele pointed to rampant inflation as a major contributor to the current hardships, noting that many Nigerians cannot afford basic necessities.
He called on President Tinubu to personally investigate the prices of commodities in the market to understand the reality faced by the populace.
“People are in anguish,” Ayodele said. “Tinubu must not allow anyone to deceive him into thinking that things are improving. The situation is dire—people can’t afford three square meals a day. It’s getting worse every day. Only those within the government seem insulated from this pain.”
The cleric, known for his close ties to grassroots communities, revealed the extent of his personal efforts to support those struggling to make ends meet. “I am close to the grassroots and I know how much I spend to support the masses just to feed,” he explained.
“Tinubu should not celebrate anything because Nigerians are suffering. The cost of living has increased; the standard of living has dropped drastically. Don’t be deceived, people are sad.” He added