INRI Evangelical Church Primate
Ayodele says: A New Terrorist Group is coming.
Primate Nanatunde Elijah Ayodele is
the Founder and Head of Inri Evangelical Spiritual Church located in
Lagos. This spiritual leader has over the years been known for his
predictions of what may likely happen each year, and oftentimes most of what he
predicts usually occur.
Can you tell us about your revival
programme that you are planning?
We have a forthcoming revival, which
is going to be one of its kind despite been a white garment church we intend
bringing out something different from what other churches do, we would have the
use of different languages, English Yoruba and French and we are going to
showcase our culture. The revival is coming up on the 5th day
of July which is going to be the 1st Friday of that month. We
are also planning to have a 25,000 setters church very soon we are actually
looking at Lagos State or Osun State. We intend bringing Lagosians
together for that day so we are expecting much people for the revival despite
the fact that other churches would be having their programme that day, we want
Lagosians to know more about Christ. We want them closer to God and also
want them to know the importance of having God in their life.
Do you intend relocating the church
from Lagos?
We are not leaving Lagos, monthly we
opened a branch in United States and we just got our certificate, we can’t
leave Lagos that is where things are happening we just need a bigger space
because we run 3 service in the Lagos chapter and its usually a bit congested
and we don’t want that anymore that is why we are working on the 25,000 setters
church.
What is numerical strength of your
congregation now?
I can’t say this is the number of
members we have but for us to be running 3 services then we are many. Usually
we don’t stay late at night but because of the turnout of crowd every Sunday I
am always busy all through till the late hours of the night. We started
with just 6 people at Ilasamaja in Lagos . Then I was not bothered about the
number of members I had. But I won’t be fulfilled until I am able to fill
in all that I should and that is what I can impart in their lives, how I can
make them happy, make them know about Christ. So it’s not about number of
people I have, but about the number of people God has turned their situations
around through me .I am trying my best not to impress anyone but to make sure
my earthly mission is achieved, which is helping the widows and orphans and
taking the gospel to the next level.
You are one person who is known for
predictions, how do you feel when you make these predictions?
I feel safe, sometimes when you work
ahead of time and the people around you don’t take you serious its hurts most
time, when you say pray and people ignore and eventually bad occurrence’s take
place as predicted it makes me feel bad. Predictions make me
feel bad sometimes but I have no option for this is to comply to what God
says. I really don’t care what people say.
You made some prediction early this
year which part of it has come to pass. One of it is Governor’s Forum,
what do you have to say to that?
Yes I made some predictions about
the Governor’s Forum ,the exit of Boko Haram and the new sect coming up
because Boko Haram is gone, but we have another terrorist group
which the government has to work on seriously, and I also talked
about the death of some governor’s and the death of Ekiti State Deputy Governor
and the removal of Imo State Deputy Governor, these are what I can remember for
now.
Are you a member of CAN
(Christian Association of Nigeria)?
Do we have CAN in Nigeria? CAN
is about politics. There is no fear of God there. I am surprised you are
talking about CAN when we have serious issues on ground, I don’t know what Ayo
Oritsejafor has done as CAN President. If God gives me the go ahead I
will unseat Ayo. I am not an activist like Pastor Bakare or who. If I am
an activist I would have paraded 10 million Christians to unseat Ayo. He is
a just a politician. He is not a Pastor. He is a career
pastor. Let us scrap CAN. It is not important. There is no CAN in
the Bible, we just wake up one day to hear of CAN and PFN all these are
corrupt. We need serious people who are visionary leaders to lead the Christian
Association of Nigeria. Ayo is just parading himself, and we should stop
putting politics into the Christhood. Despite the crises in the North he never
made attempt to go there to talk to the Christians all he does is for
himself. So I sincerely don’t see the reason CAN should exist if we
can’t help the Christians.
So what do you think is the way
forward?
The way forward is people like Ayo
should step aside and let people who are vibrant him take over. They know
who can fit into the position. I am not a member so they should know who
to choose but like I said CAN issue is the least problem in Nigeria now.
I am not angry with him. He is a man of God .Neither do I contact CAN
because I see no reason why I should, is it for money, fame or what?
And I don’t think they would take to correction.
What do you see of 2015 election?
the thing is this, in 2015 Jonathan
should consult God than man. The moment he consults God everything would be
easy for him. The election might not be easy because there will be another stronger
opposition party coming up to fight PDP and Jonathan would not find that easy
as he did the other time. He has to consult God before he embark on this
journey but if he feels his initiative would lead way for him than he might not
be able to complete his journey.
When you predict things and it
doesn’t happen as said, how do you feel about that?
The issue is if I say God says
something it will happen, if not now, later, it might happen at that time or
prayers might have averted it sometimes but everything is about God.
Do you contact those at the top when
you make your prediction or before you do?
I don’t contact anyone.
Can you share with us the challenges
you faced while being a pastor?
Well I don’t have challenges what I
have is experience and the experience is about when we wanted to get a land
they gave us an ultimatum of 7 days which got me worried, everything that
has happened to me I call it experience not a challenge.
Who do you see as your mentor in the
ministry?
God if not God, I wont be anywhere,
I don’t have any godfather or anyone I look up to, it is just about God and me.
It has been alleged that you don’t
talk to TB Joshua how true is that?
I respect every man of God who talks
to me but I believe in keeping to myself. I don’t need any man of God to be my
friend, despite not sharing the same vision but it doesn’t mean whenever we see
we wouldn’t greet ourselves. I am a founder and a spiritual head of my own
church and God is there and I believe God is everywhere and in every
church even in the Mosque.
