The early hours of today saw unexpected tension gripping major states across the country, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. A protest, initially peaceful, rapidly escalated into violence, catching many by surprise and sparking widespread concern.
Despite the government’s efforts to prevent the protest, it went ahead as planned. They had tried to dissuade the public by suddenly creating job opportunities, lowering the price of rice, distributing funds, and implementing seemingly people-friendly policies. However, these last-minute interventions failed. The protest has already had a significant negative impact.
In Kano, a wave of unrest swept through the state as protesters breached the government house, looted the newly constructed NCC complex, and ransacked stores for food. The chaos escalated as they destroyed government properties, vandalized public amenities, and set buildings ablaze, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake.
In Abuja, a massive protest has erupted, defying FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s warnings against public demonstrations. The scale of the crowd and the extent of the property destruction have shocked many, marking the most significant protest the city has seen in the past 15 years.
In Niger State, the recent protests have turned deadly, with six demonstrators reportedly killed. Meanwhile, Kaduna has witnessed the tragic death of one protester. In response to the escalating violence, four states have imposed a 24-hour curfew to prevent further chaos. The nation is on edge as law and order deteriorate, sparking widespread concern.
In these challenging times, one voice stands out with a prophetic warning: Primate Ayodele of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church. He cautioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu repeatedly—four times, to be exact. With a deep sense of urgency and concern, he advised the president to address the rampant hardship gripping the nation. Primate Ayodele foretold that failing to do so could ignite a protest surpassing the magnitude of the ENDSARS movement
On Saturday, July 6th, 2024, Primate Ayodele unveiled the 30th edition of his annual prophecy book, “Warnings To The Nations.” During an interview following the launch, he forewarned of an impending massive protest, potentially dubbed the “Mother of all Protests,” unless the government takes immediate action to prevent it.
The prophet’s declaration about a forthcoming protest resonated deeply, as he emphasized the nation’s widespread hunger and anger. He warned that only decisive action from the President could prevent the unrest. Just a week after his powerful statement, the call for protest gained significant traction, reflecting the people’s growing discontent and urgency for change.
These were his words:
“I see a major protest worse than EndSARS protest before 2027. Except the government of the day is ready and will be willing to do the needful to ameliorate the hardship in the land. As a matter of fact, the government must take urgent steps to address the hunger and the anger in the land before September ending. If the government wants to avert the mother of all protests, they must do the right thing in addressing hunger and joblessness in the country.”
In May 2024, Primate Ayodele issued a stark warning to President Tinubu, urging him to address Nigeria’s mounting economic challenges. The prophet’s message was particularly striking this time, as he predicted a massive protest—potentially even larger than the ENDSARS movement—looming between August and September 2024 if the president failed to take action. Ayodele’s forecast underscored the urgency of the situation, suggesting that public discontent could soon reach a boiling point.
He urged the President to tackle the escalating economic and hunger crises decisively, warning that failure to address these issues could lead to more widespread protests.
These were his words👇👇👇
‘’President Tinubu, don’t allow another massive protest to come up, let there be food on the table of Nigerians. Do something about this inflation so that we can avoid inflation. I see another massive protest that will affect every quarter. If there is no improvement by August-September, it will be terrible.’’
It’s disheartening that those in positions of power often ignore divine guidance. If they had heeded the prophetic warnings issued in May—complete with a detailed timeline—Nigeria might have avoided the large-scale protests that have erupted in 2024. Despite the clear forewarning, their inaction persisted until it was too late, and by then, the plans for protest had already been set in motion.
Before the 2023 presidential election, Primate Ayodele prophesied that the victorious candidate among the top three contenders would face significant unrest. His prediction hinted at a wave of protests and civil unrest that would sweep across the nation, regardless of who emerged triumphant.
He cautioned that the eventual winner must make sure to include everyone in their plans and approach decisions with patience to prevent the widespread protests he has been predicting.
These were his words:👇👇👇
‘’I foresee a massive protest either ATIKU, TINUBU, OBI or KWANKWASO is in the saddle. Anyone of them MUST PRAY AGAINST any major massive protest that is a mother of END SARS. When and time I don’t know but before the end of the new era because it is not going to be immediate change either any of the three wins but one would be better than the other. But Nigeria will not want to be patient. That is the reason why the incoming government must exercise patience and make the people understand. ‘’
Before the election, a prophecy hinted at the turbulent times to come. As President Tinubu embarked on his administration, his initial policies seemed to lay the groundwork for widespread difficulty and struggle. His approach, marked by controversial reforms and economic shifts, set a challenging stage that many felt was foretold by the prophecy’s ominous predictions.
The impact of his declaration lingers profoundly in the ongoing turmoil that fueled this protest. Despite Primate Ayodele’s foresight, advising that the next president should exercise patience and foster understanding, his warnings went unheeded. This oversight has only intensified the unrest, highlighting the enduring significance of those ignored words.
As the federal government scrambled to halt the planned protests, desperate measures were put into action. Despite their efforts, Primate Ayodele confidently declared that nothing could quell the impending demonstrations. He asserted that the fury of the Nigerian people was too intense for any government intervention to suppress.
‘’People are very bitter and they have hatred towards this government. Some states will participate and some will not but definitely there will be protests. The government needs all it needs to do; crash the price of food, electricity, petroleum, find solutions to insecurity, regulate prices and others to mitigate the effect of the protest.’’
‘’People are in serious hardship but the government doesn’t understand, they need to do something fast because it will be more than an ordinary protest. Nigeria doesn’t need this protest now because there is ‘protest inside protest’ due to pains, hardship, and hunger.’’
He asserted that the government’s inaction on hunger issues reflects a lack of genuine commitment. As a result, the protest will continue unabated.
‘’The government is affecting the rich and poor, there is hardship everywhere but people didn’t expect this. People who surround the government are deceiving him. They want the government to collapse. The government has not done anything so they should expect the protest, it will stand. ‘’
Today ushers in the #EndBadGovernance protest, kicking off what is expected to be a transformative ten-day movement. The energy on the first day already echoes the fervor of the ENDSARS protests. If the initial surge is any indication, the coming days promise to be even more intense and impactful. The question on everyone’s mind: how will the momentum build as the protest unfolds?
Conclusively, President Tinubu’s disregard for the warning came back to haunt him. Primate Ayodele had foreseen the storm, but his prophetic advice went unheeded. Now, as the nation reels from the fallout, the echoes of that ignored counsel resonate louder than ever. The lessons of foresight and humility stand stark against the backdrop of unfolding events.
