Wilson Adekumola.
The Presiding Minister of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has cautioned Nigerians engaging in violent protests to desist forthwith adding that attacking banks is senseless.
This came barely few hours of the cash crunch-induced protests that rocked some states which resulted in blocking of highways and attacking banks especially in Lagos State.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, the prophet made it known that the protests are misplaced aggression against innocent citizens.
He noted that Nigerians only engaged themselves in fight instead of taking the fight to the government and those in charge of the policy.
While explaining that destroying banks will only inflict more pains on ordinary citizens because they won’t be able to operate for months he said this will make it more difficult for people to get money even if the policy is reversed.
Doubting whether election election will hold, the church leader, however, allayed fear about the election which will hold on February 25, noting that he is not convinced the election as a result of the situation of things in the country.
‘’Fighting ourselves does not make any sense. Godwin Emefiele and Buhari have their reasons for this policy, instead of fighting individuals, take them to court and if you are not satisfied, go to Abuja and fight them instead of destroying banks and properties. The banks are not to be blamed, it’s what they have that they can give, they can’t give you what they don’t have.’’
‘’If you destroy the bank, they won’t operate for months and you will still be affected. This is what some people want to destabilize the election. This is why I am not certain about the date for the election because how will the materials be distributed with the issues on ground? How will people come out to vote and even if it’s conducted, it will not be every part of the country and it will lead to rigging.’’
‘’I have seen that the date of the election isn’t certain, but the INEC is obstinate, I don’t know how we will conduct an election like this. The government should do all they can to circulate the approved notes if they want to call back the other notes.’’
Primate Ayodele noted if not for the fire brigade approach the federal government used the naira policy was a good decision taken at a wrong time adding that because the government wanted to frustrate some groups of individuals but didn’t consider the masses while taking the decision.
‘’Some politicians are not happy, the government has taken the right decision but at the wrong time. They don’t have a sufficient plan. The UK changed money and it didn’t cause any problems. The government is using a fire brigade approach which will not allow peace. We are the problems of ourselves. The money change was never part of the government plans, it’s just an emergency plan the government wants to use to frustrate some group of politicians but they didn’t know it will backfire.’’
Primate Ayodele revealed further that there will still be massive protests if the government refused to attend to the issue and that the APC will be at the receiving end at the election polls.
While expressing pity for Tinubu, he described as a good man, making it known that his chances will be greatly affected at the polls due to the crisis.
‘’There will still be massive protests if the government doesn’t work on this. This will affect the ruling party in the coming election because nobody will vote for that. I pity Tinubu, a good man, it’s unfortunate that this is coming back at him, this is part of the nemesis I warned him about then. I have been vindicated with my prophecies about the ruling party. If they had listened to my warning, all these would not have happened, it’s so sad. With this situation, I am afraid Tinubu will not make it.’’
Primate Ayodele affirmed he had forewarned the Nigerians against all of these before President Buhari’s second term but they never listened.
He then noted that he has been vindicated because all he warned about have come to pass.
‘’I have said earlier that the rich and the poor will suffer in Buhari’s second term, are we not experiencing it? I told you there will be food shortage, are we not seeing it now? I also said there will be food but there won’t be money to buy it, is that not happening now? I said some banks will be attacked, has that not happened? Now we will appreciate God for his warnings that we take with levity. I am not saying you should believe what I say but time will tell. All these are not new to me, I have known before now but nobody listened.’’