The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has warned President Bola Tinubu against going ahead with the Independence Day parade scheduled as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th anniversary on October 1.
Ayodele said holding the parade could expose the country to danger, and urged the president to cancel it.
The cleric gave the warning in a video shared on X ahead of the Independence Day celebration.
He said, “October 1st, President Tinubu should cancel the parade. If he attempts to go ahead with it, there is danger in it.”
Ayodele, however, did not disclose the nature of the danger or provide details on what informed his warning.
His statement comes as the Federal Government prepares to mark the anniversary with a low-key programme.
Politics Nigeria recalls that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation had earlier announced that Tinubu would address Nigerians in a nationwide broadcast on October 1 as part of the anniversary activities.
The government had also inaugurated an Inter-Ministerial Committee, chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, to coordinate the celebration.
According to the government, the 66th Independence anniversary would provide an opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the sacrifices of the country’s founding fathers and heroines and assess the progress made since independence in 1960.
Akume said the activities would be low-key, given the circumstances in the country, while urging members of the committee to work with urgency ahead of October 1.
The programme includes a World Press Conference, Juma’at Service, Church Service and an Independence Day Public Lecture before Tinubu’s nationwide broadcast on October 1.
The committee comprises several ministers and senior government officials, including the Ministers of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele; Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; and FCT, Nyesom Wike.
Also on the committee are National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga; Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu; and Director-General of the Department of State Services, Adeola Ajayi.
Beyond the Independence Day warning, Ayodele also cautioned Nigerians against accepting gifts or inducements from politicians ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He urged voters to reject material considerations and make their electoral choices according to their conscience and the interests of the country.
“And to Nigerians, don’t collect anything from any politician because of the election. Vote your conscience. Vote for the right people. Vote for people who will truly serve the interest of the people,” he said.
The cleric further urged Nigerians to remain prayerful and vigilant.
In a separate development, Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano state has called on presidential aspirants, particularly from the North, to defer their ambitions until 2031.
Yusuf said on Sunday that Nigeria should maintain the rotation of presidential power between the North and South, with each region allowed to produce a president for two consecutive terms.
He urged support for Tinubu to complete his second term, arguing that this would enable the South to complete its two-term cycle before power returns to the North in 2031.
“I urge support for President Bola Tinubu to complete his second term because this would allow the South to complete its two-term cycle before power returns to the North.
“We should allow the South to complete its two-term cycle. After that, power will return to the North in 2031,” Yusuf said.