The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has told President Bola Tinubu that Nigeria is still bleeding following the latter’s statement about the state of the nation.
Werlier reported Tinubu recently said that Nigeria is no longer bleeding due to the reforms his administration has been able to carry out.
But, Primate Ayodele in a reaction made it known that the President is being deceived by people around him.
The cleric explained that things are getting worse every day and Nigerians are languishing in pain due to the economic hardship the administration brought upon them. He stated that people can’t afford to buy essential commodities because of inflation and it is highly insensitive to say things are getting better.
‘’Nigeria is still bleeding, it may not affect the rich but every day, people are crying because of how bad things are. Tinubu should do a survey of prices of commodities in the market and see how bad things are for Nigerians. People are in anguish, and Tinubu must not allow anyone deceive him that it is well, but it is not yet well. People can’t afford a three-square meal, it’s getting worse every day. Don’t be deceived at all; people are in serious pain except those who are in government.’’
The prophet, who is actively involved in feeding the less privileged, asserted that he spends more money to feed more than 7,000 people monthly and that the standard of living has dropped drastically.
‘’I am close to the grass root and I know how much I spend to support the masses just to feed. I feed more than 7,000 of them monthly. 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.
“It is worth noting that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike in his remarks said that President Tinubu has restored hope in the minds of Nigerians. However, Primate Ayodele described the statement as ‘wrong’ because there is no hope yet for anyone regarding the economic and security situation of the country.
‘’There is no renewed hope anywhere yet from this government, the hope we need is the one that manifests and turns life around. There is no essential commodity that is cheap and affordable for the common man. It’s a wrong statement to say this administration has restored hope in the minds of Nigerians. This government must be honest with itself, there is no hope yet at all.’’
Government is required to Iive by truth and ethics, that is why the clergy is concerned with government
the Principals of Ma’at and the Good Book both admonish Governance by ethical standards. These standards provide a measure that finds synergy with universal laws. Government must also live by universal laws and reap the benefits of peace, harmony and abundance.
All that were enumerated by the primate are the challenges that must be faced due the bold steps taken by the president in the course to rejig the economy. Those most unfortunate is that the shock absorbers required to withstand these steps were not available. Take for instance the financial fleeces that took place in the immediate past administration – the emefiele CBN saga, the purported $25b oil swap that went into private pockets. These constitutes the bleeding the president is referring to. Tinubu have never shy away the fact that Nigerians are facing hardship. Astute economist have applauded him for these steps as one in the right direction saying they see the green light in the tunnel.
I think those are enough reasons for the primate to lend on in defending the presidency. However, I won’t blame him for trying to take side as his ministry depended on winning souls be it the gullible or whoever.