PRIMATE AYO DELE WARNS: POLITICIANS USE AND DUMP SUPPORTERS, PASTORS

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By; Sunmola Ganiyat

The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has cautioned Nigerians against risking their lives for politicians, saying political actors often use their supporters and abandon them after elections.

Ayodele gave the warning in a video posted on TikTok on Monday, urging Nigerians, particularly young people, not to allow politicians to manipulate them into engaging in violence during elections.

The cleric said politicians across different political parties often maintain cordial relationships despite the rivalry among their supporters.

He advised Nigerians not to fight or die for politicians, noting that supporters could be left to deal with the consequences of violence after elections.

“Nigerians especially, don’t die for politicians. Tinubu and Atiku, they are friends. You only fight and fight and fight and fight and kill yourself,” he said.

Ayodele also warned young people against accepting money from politicians in exchange for participating in dangerous political activities.

He said supporters could suffer serious consequences, including injury or kidnapping, while the politicians they supported would not bear the same risks.

The cleric further urged Nigerians not to allow political differences to destroy relationships, stressing that political opponents often reconcile after elections.

He also criticised what he described as the exploitation of religious leaders by politicians, saying pastors could equally be used and later abandoned.

“They will only use you and dump you. They will use people like us too, pastors, and they will dump us. That is not a problem,” Ayodele said.

He questioned whether politicians would expose their own children or family members to the same dangers they encourage supporters to face.

Ayodele urged young Nigerians involved in politics to exercise caution and avoid blindly defending or praising political figures at the expense of their safety and future.

He stressed that political contests should not lead supporters to become casualties while politicians continue to pursue their interests.