Primate Elijah Ayodele, the leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, expressed disappointment over President Bola Tinubu’s recent cabinet reshuffle, asserting that Nigerians have no reason to celebrate it.
Speaking through his media aide, Oluwatosin Osho, Ayodele argued that the ministers who continue to cause hardship and distress for the public remain in power, while the reshuffle only replaced officials who were not the root of the problem.
Ayodele emphasized that Nigerians would truly celebrate if Tinubu removed the ministers causing widespread frustration, suggesting the reshuffle was misguided and would not bring the positive impact many hoped for.
“The ministers that are supposed to be changed have not been changed; the ones changed cannot add any reasonable value. Some ministers who believed they are God need to be changed too,” Ayodele remarked, urging the administration to reconsider the decision for the sake of the nation’s welfare.
Primate Ayodele mentioned that the reshuffle signifies a missed opportunity to address the worsening state of Nigeria’s economy and quality of life.
He stated, “Nigerians cannot applaud Tinubu over these changes because those making people to cry are still in his cabinet. You will see that people in the country will celebrate when they change some of these people.”
The cleric also pointed out that those advising Tinubu might have influenced the president to relieve the wrong individuals of their positions, resulting in ineffective changes.
In addition to his remarks on the reshuffle, Ayodele condemned the selective approach of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, stating that the agency should investigate all politicians if it aims to root out corruption.
He criticized the rapid accumulation of wealth by some officials who, he claimed, entered office without significant assets but now flaunt vast riches.
“If EFCC wants to be serious, every politician should be arrested because many of them didn’t have anything before they got into position, but when they got there, they became billionaires. The commission has a lot to do if they want to wash this country; otherwise, it will still be the same thing,” he asserted, calling for a more comprehensive and honest fight against corruption.
Ayodele’s message conveyed a warning, without genuine changes in the cabinet and a dedicated anti-corruption effort, Nigeria will continue to face deepening hardship and distrust among its citizens.
