Primate Elijah Ayodele, the leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has predicted that 2025 will be a year marked by significant social upheaval, with state governors potentially facing physical attacks and the wealthy living in fear.
According to Ayodele, these dire outcomes will result from escalating hunger and worsening economic hardship in Nigeria.
In a statement released on Friday by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Ayodele warned that the economic situation will deteriorate further, with the government imposing more taxes and increasing tariffs on essential services. He emphasized that if corrective measures are not taken, the entire Nigerian system could face collapse, leading to widespread discontent and aggression among citizens.
Ayodele stated: “The fact remains that from now till February, things will be harder than before. What is the government doing? They refused to listen to simple instructions and the more the government fails to listen, the more difficult things would be.”
He went on to express concern over the government’s handling of economic issues, suggesting that the situation could spiral out of control. “Nigeria hasn’t seen any yet because there is confusion in the economic realm which the government failed to handle,” he said. He also predicted more increases in fuel prices, even with the operation of the Dangote refinery, and warned of impending hikes in electricity and telecommunication tariffs. “This government will inflict more hardship on the people with taxes,” he added.
Ayodele also described a scenario where the wealthy might fear for their safety, and convoys of governors and politicians could be attacked by angry citizens. He declared, “The Nigerian system will collapse if the government doesn’t do the right thing, a lot will happen before 2027, don’t let democracy lead to bitterness. The government should act before this gets out of hand. You will see people stoning convoys of governors, politicians, and the rich will be scared to move around because of fear of attacks.”
The cleric stressed that many Nigerians have yet to grasp the severity of the hardship ahead. He called for prayers to avert a famine-like situation, highlighting that any increase in the minimum wage would be meaningless. He forewarned that inflation would render money increasingly worthless. “The country is yet to understand because the situation we will meet ourselves will not be palatable, 2025 isn’t a smiling year at all,” he said. “There are still more woes for the Nigerian Naira, we need the divine help of God. Let’s pray not to reach the famine stage in this country. The increment in minimum wage will not mean anything for Nigerians, from next year, you will see N200 as N5 because it will have no value again.”
Ayodele further noted that even state governors would struggle financially, saying, “Even governors will be complaining, they will run into debt despite federal allocation. States will be in total confusion, some will borrow money till they are unable to borrow again.”
He concluded by urging the government to heed his warnings, framing them not as doom but as necessary truths. He stated: “This is not doom but the truth even though it’s better, let’s wait and see. 2024 is an intro of 2025, there will be a shortage of food, and we don’t have to disturb God with our prayers. Unless the government does the needful, Nigerians should prepare for more of what they are currently experiencing.” Ayodele stressed that the nation requires concrete action rather than relying solely on prayer to avert the looming crisis.
