The Convener of the League of Northern Democrats (LND), Dr. Umar Ardo, has accused Primate Elijah Ayodele of making divisive statements against the Fulani people under the guise of prophecy.
Ardo, a former governorship candidate of the SDP in Adamawa State, was reacting to a video in which the leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church advised President Bola Tinubu not to appoint Fulani people into sensitive positions in government. Ayodele reportedly claimed such appointments would bring “betrayal, shock and pain” to the President.
Describing the prophecy as reckless, Ardo said it amounted to ethnic profiling and should be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians.
“Ordinarily, such careless talk would not deserve a response,” he said.
“But coming from a man who parades himself as a priest and commands followers, silence would mean condoning falsehood, bigotry and dangerous incitement.”
He argued that history does not support Ayodele’s sweeping claims, pointing to notable Fulani leaders who served Nigeria with distinction.
“From Sir Ahmadu Bello, who laid the foundation of governance in Northern Nigeria, to General Murtala Muhammad, who sacrificed his life for the country, and to the many academics, technocrats and military officers that have given their all — the record speaks for itself,” Ardo noted.
According to him, branding Fulani people as inherently untrustworthy is “shameful, hypocritical and unchristian.” He added that betrayal in leadership cannot be ascribed to any single ethnic group, stressing that Fulani heritage is rooted in honour and service.
The LND convener warned that religious leaders are called to reconcile and uplift society, not incite divisions.
“If it is wrong to stereotype the Yoruba or the Igbo, then it is equally wrong to stereotype the Fulani. This kind of double standard only exposes the hypocrisy behind such so-called prophecies,” he said.
Ardo described Ayodele’s statement as a “poisonous threat to national unity” at a time when Nigeria is still grappling with ethnic and religious mistrust.
He maintained that appointments into public offices should be guided strictly by merit, competence and loyalty to the nation rather than ethnic suspicion.
Ardo slams Primate Ayodele over alleged anti-Fulani prophecy
