FLASHBACK! 2020: Pray against death, drama in Aso Rock -Primate Ayodele

(FIRST PUBLISHED HERE JAN. 2, 2020)

.Says hardship, bad economy, insecurity, unfulfilled promises, job losses will continue 

ADEWOLE KEHINDE

Popular seer and leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual church with headquarters in Oke-Afa, Lagos, Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele has predicted that there won’t be any significant improvement in a lot of Nigerians in 2020. 

He said it will be the same old story of poor economy, job losses, insecurity, failed promises and unfulfilled dreams among others. He, however, clarified that the predictions are warnings, adding that prayers may avert any tragic prophecy.

Primate Ayodele had in his yearly book of prophecies entitled: “Warnings to the Nations” for the year 2019, made accurate predictions including PDP losing the last Bayelsa and Kogi state governorship polls to the APC;  the feud between the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki; President Donald Trump’s impeachment; death of a Channel TV reporter and attack on reporters; replacement of FIRS chairman, Babatunde Fowler; death in the Senate; ex-governors having serious problems manifesting in Orji Uzor Kalu’s conviction and imprisonment among others. 

Against this background, Nigerian Xpress recently interviewed him in his church complex in Oke-Afa, Lagos, during his annual empowerment/lifeline sharing of gifts to thousands of the underprivileged including widows, indigent students and the poor, and as usual, he spoke on many issues, making predictions and giving comments:

Nigerians haven’t seen significant manifestation of President Buhari’s NextLevel promise in his second term in 2019, what do you see in 2020 about this promise?

I am not seeing any next level, there will be hardship, pains. I am not seeing the economy improving. It will still be the same old story, nothing good or rosy about the economy. Some states promising minimum wage will still not pay. There will be epidemic, cholera in Army Barracks, Nigeria’s debt will keep rising. VAT will increase. FIRS will keep increasing VAT. Insecurity will still continue.

What do you see about the coming elections generally?

Let us pray against emergency of two governors in Edo guber poll. Oshiomhole and Secondus should be ready for replacement.  There will be crack in PDP. Tinubu should consult God very well in his presidential bid. His ambition will shock a lot of people. Atiku should not contest the next presidential poll. PDP should not field him. Northerners don’t want to relinquish power. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State should be careful of being stabbed in the back. Ganduje and Emir of Kano’s making up will not see light of the day. Let us pray against losing two Emirs and Obas. A traditional ruler in Yoruba land should pray against ridicule.

Osinbajo will cease acting effectively as VP as people who don’t mean anything will continue to run Buhari’s government. Let us pray against death and dramas in the Villa. Let us pray against rancour in Buhari’s cabinet. 

Tinubu should consult God more than  humans in his ambition. Most of his foot soldiers will not support him. There is a northern agenda against him. From what I have seen, I will advise him to take his time to consult God more. He is working towards gaining the support of the north but he should beware of the north because they will betray him more.

There will be gang up against Governor Seyi Makinde in his party toward the end of his first tenure.

The current Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu will not be able to outshine Ambode. They will fight him in his party. His party people will rise against him.

Things will be so bad that people will stone governors’ convoys and even President Buhari’s convoy will be attacked. We will keep borrowing. In spite of bailout some states will still owe. Incessant killings and violence will hold sway.

What should we expect in governance?

I don’t want to advise the President again because he doesn’t listen to advice, politicians don’t listen to advice. I see a new Aso Rock emerging within the area where the old one is now. North and South will still fight politically. Let us pray against Nigerians being deported within Nigeria. Soldiers sent to fight Boko Haram will still protest. 

Border closure is very good. The government must maintain it. In fact, the border should be closed permanently. It will help our home-made products.

Government should beware of the tendency to fight the media. There will be no press freedom. There will be protests against government. The incumbent in Ghana should be careful else he will be replaced by the opposition, also in Cote D’Voire. Akeredolu will face a lot of issues in Ondo. PDP will not shine in Edo and Ondo polls. Pensioners will still protest, so also will workers.

There will be Cholera outbreak in Lagos, Ogun and Kaduna. Lasa and Ebola may come faintly.

I still stand by my prophecy about Nigeria not surviving oneness before 2025. These are just warnings. Prayers may avert  warnings.

A one-time governor, a minister may pass away. Explosions will rock the nation. There will be trouble again in NNPC. SWAN and NUJ will also have issues. Let us pray against death of journalists. These are warnings. 

In the entertainment sector, let us pray against death of a Nollywood star. Pasuma and Osupa should pray against losing money and contract. Pasuma will lose a major contract. Osupa should pray against being bereaved. Pasuma should work more on building his image. PMAN president will have issues. Let us pray against losing any musician, highlife, musician, especially gospel. ASUU will still go on strike, so also the medical workers because government will still renege on its agreement.

What do you see in the business world?

Some banks will be unhealthy. Stanbic, Access, Polaris and First bank will have issues. Some banks will lay off their staff. 

Dangote refinery will come on stream. He will shut down one of his companies, while his cement will have shortage of material, leading to increase in the price of cement. I am also seeing scarcity of sugar. I am seeing a fault between Otedola and Dangote. There is going to be a lot of troubles in the board of Oando. Air Peace will also have problem. KLM will be sued. Dana may want to expand their scope of routes, but it will be a bit difficult. Arik will technical problems with an aircraft. 

In NNPC, I am seeing the Group Managing Director and Minister of State for Petroleum having issues, while some shoddy deals will be exposed in NNPC. MTN masts will be attacked and the telecommunication company will have network challenges between February and March. Airtel will also have some network challenges between March and April and they will lay off some of their staff. Glo will try to make a new impact as they will struggle for expansion, they will try to perform.

Are we really fighting corruption in this country?

This is not a prophesy, but I will come to the prophesy of it. Honestly, with what we are seeing, we have not really fought corruption. I can score the President 30 per cent, at least, he has done some things that were technically remarkable but I still insist corruption is really biting hard because the people that are corrupt, their cases are not properly handled. They are not being held for it. Some of those indicted are still working for the government, so I will say the government has not really fought corruption as expected.

This piece was first published in The Nigerian Xpress online on January 2, 2020