“Greedy People Rule Us”: Primate Ayodele Blasts Nigerian Leaders in Fiery Prophetic Declaration

In a scathing indictment of the nation’s political class, the leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has described Nigerian politicians as fundamentally “wicked, selfish, and greedy.”

During a service at the church’s international headquarters on Sunday, January 18, 2026, the cleric issued a series of prophetic warnings, lamenting that the majority of those in power have completely abandoned the citizens they were elected to serve.

Primate Ayodele asserted that the lack of progress in Nigeria is directly linked to the character of its rulers, many of whom he claims have lost their human conscience.

The cleric drew a sharp distinction between the few leaders who still possess a sense of duty and the majority who remain indifferent to the plight of the masses.

“Only few governors have compassion for their citizens,” Ayodele remarked. “Our government, they spend unwisely, they are now [not] ready to help the citizens.”

He further criticized the accessibility of public officials, noting that they only become responsive when there is a political advantage to be gained.

“You can’t go to them for help, they won’t answer you. But if you go for any political assistance, because they know they will need you, they will now come out and say, we want to help you.”

A central theme of Ayodele’s message was the influence of political godfathers, whom he blamed for the skewed priorities of elected officials. He argued that while leaders ignore the suffering of the poor, they are remarkably efficient when acting on the orders of their political benefactors.

“How can Nigeria make it, how can Nigeria move forward when we have wicked people in government?” he asked rhetorically. “Wicked people, they don’t care, if you want to die, die. But if it is as directed by godfather, they will die there.”

He painted a grim picture of the current state of leadership: “Our leaders they are very abusive of power, and they are self-centered, they are greedy. Greedy people rule us in Nigeria. You don’t know who to connect you, if you want to die, you die.”

Looking ahead to future electoral cycles, Primate Ayodele urged Nigerians to stop the cycle of corruption at the ballot box. He warned that accepting small financial inducements in exchange for votes is equivalent to selling one’s future.

“We are to help ourselves to vote the right people in the coming election. Don’t vote for people who will give you N10000 to vote, and will never even help, you won’t see them again,”** he cautioned.

He clarified that despite his harsh critique, he still believes in the importance of the democratic process, provided it is exercised with wisdom and prayer.

“So if that is the case why do you want to kill yourself to vote? But go and vote, don’t say Primate Ayodele say you should not vote. I didn’t say you should not vote. If you like sell your conscience, sell your your head, sell your future, N5000, N3000, that is your business. But vote wisely, you need prayer for a leader, O God, our leaders are wicked, and that is why corruption will not end.”

The Primate concluded by stating that Nigeria’s struggles with corruption are systemic and fueled by a lack of spiritual and moral integrity at the top.

“That is why Nigeria needs prayers,” he said. “Because in this kind of situation everyone is corrupt, everywhere is corrupt.”