Primate Elijah Ayodele, leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that individuals allegedly financing terrorist activities in Nigeria are embedded within the corridors of power and the military.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, the cleric urged the Federal Government to show greater resolve in tackling the nation’s worsening security situation. He cautioned that failure to decisively confront terrorism could threaten national stability and undermine the success of the Tinubu administration.
According to Ayodele, those funding terrorism are not outsiders but people involved in key decision-making processes within government. He alleged that such individuals operate at the highest levels of power, making it difficult to completely stamp out insecurity without strong political will.
The cleric stressed the need for a comprehensive and inclusive security strategy that involves all stakeholders, from grassroots communities to national security agencies. He warned that insecurity could continue to spread if the government does not demonstrate seriousness and urgency in addressing the threat.
Ayodele further cautioned President Tinubu against underestimating the scale of the security challenge, noting that unchecked insecurity could derail his administration. He claimed he had previously warned that insecurity could be the major factor behind any potential failure of the government.
He also identified several states and locations that, according to him, require heightened security attention. These include Bauchi, Katsina, Adamawa, Taraba, Kano, Lokoja in Kogi State, Abuja, and Ondo State.
While acknowledging the efforts of the Nigerian military, Ayodele noted that security forces are facing determined and relentless adversaries. He alleged that terrorist groups are deliberately targeting Christians as part of a strategy to destabilise the current administration.
The cleric warned that the fight against insecurity could become politically costly if not urgently addressed, particularly as the country moves closer to another election cycle. He advised the President to closely follow intelligence briefings and ensure that state governors actively cooperate with security agencies.
Ayodele also cautioned that security threats could escalate again around February and March, urging the Federal Government to act swiftly to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
