2019 presidency: Step down for Saraki, Primate Ayodele tells Buhari

One of his prophecies was that aircraft in Nigeria would experience crashes on land, and barely one month into 2018, a Dana commercial aircraft was reported to have nearly crashed after hitting the fence of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, less than 24 hours after a chartered aircraft lost its tyres and landing gear at the same airport. Renowned prophet, founder and spiritual leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, with headquarters in Lagos, Primate Elijah Ayodele, speaks with BAYO ALADE and RITA OKONOBOH on the 2019 elections, the Obasanjo-inspired Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM), and other expectations in Nigeria and the international scene in 2018 and beyond.

The polity

President Muhammadu Buhari’s time is over in 2019. If Buhari re-contests, Nigeria will sink and there will be problems which may even result in bloodbath. We have three options: we either operate a regional system of government; we separate, or Buhari steps down for Senate President Bukola Saraki, for peace and security in the country. The plot in the Senate cannot overcome Saraki. A lot of things have gone wrong under Buhari in the present administration. There is trouble ahead of 2019 if clerics and Nigerians do not seek divine intervention. We need prayers to sustain Nigeria beyond 2019. The National Assembly has taken the right steps on many issues. If the All Progressives Congress (APC) re-presents Buhari as its presidential candidate, he will fail. He is no longer Nigeria’s ‘messiah.’ And if Saraki doesn’t run for presidency, he is in trouble. For the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), do they understand their bearings? Except they reorganise and field the right candidate, they will not get it right. For instance, a right step would be fielding a candidate like Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State. For the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM), it will be tough. I see a kind of amalgamation of some parties coming together. Atiku Abubakar should go and rest.

In spite of the funds recovered from looters, the government will still be broke. That’s why the Eighth Senate will perform and checkmate the irregularities in the present administration. There will be trouble in Buhari’s cabinet. Some governors will be stoned, and the Presidency will launch certain actions against critics of its administration. Unemployment will be a tough issue for the present administration, despite attempts to improve the situation. Only if the APC picks the right person can they win in Ekiti State. APC in Osun State must embrace unity. The Federal Government will take certain steps on civil servants. Some APC states will have problems and there will be attempts to pacify them. John Odigie Oyegun as APC chairman will face criticism and APC will try to settle internal crisis. Obasanjo’s Coalition for Nigeria Movement will only work if they pick the right people that will make it work. At the end of it all, there will be much pressure on the CNM and they will not quickly reach an agreement on certain issues. However, they will keep the APC and the PDP on their toes. They will stand as a threat to the two major political parties. There will be resignations in Buhari’s cabinet. I’m not against Buhari or in support of anyone, but Buhari’s administration cannot deliver because his economic policies are creating poverty. The government will make various efforts in security, but there will be lapses. Buhari will take various steps to balance, but the point is that his government is weak and a ‘cabal’ has held his government to ransom. There will be serious political consultations and political gang-up against Buhari. APC will have internal conflict. PDP governors will not be in unity.

Economy

Our external reserves will fluctuate and Nigeria will run into debt. Dollar will fluctuate and drop between now and March and will rise again around April and May. Dangote will run into unexpected debt. Fidelity Bank, Access Bank, Diamond Bank and First Bank should pray to avert attacks and fire incidents. Fidelity Bank, First Bank, and Heritage Bank may lay off some of their staff. CBN must constitute their board in order to stabilise Nigeria’s economy.

Oil sector

A lot of hidden things will be exposed in the NNPC and there will be issues with missing funds. The petroleum crisis is not yet over. Kerosene will still be scarce and PENGASSAN/NUPENG will go on strike. There will be plot to remove the GMD of the NNPC, as well as for Buhari to be removed as the Minister of Petroleum.

Security

Herdsmen’s troubles are not yet over. There may be more killings in Benue, Adamawa, Katsina, Plateau and other places. We should pray to avert bloodbath. There will be more reprisals as regards herdsmen’s attacks and government will not seem to take strong steps to tackle the issue.

Let us pray against attacks on churches and mosques. Let us pray against the death of a prominent pastor and an Islamic cleric. The police will kill innocent people. Unexpectedly, some DIGs and AIGs may be retired in the police force. There will be ethnicity killings and crisis in Delta, Rivers, Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, and Nasarawa states. There will also be explosions in Maiduguri, and Abuja.

International

North Korea will be a threat to America and some parts of the world. Israel will be attacked. UK will have erosion problems. Also, its economy may be shaken and there may be problems with the parliament. There will be killings and explosions in Ghana. There will be killing, flooding and fire incidents in America. DHL may be unstable, while EPS will fall despite growth. France’s economy will help to improve other countries. India will experience improvement in their economy. There will be problems with some presidents of African countries, some presidents will face challenges, and there will be attempted coups. America and UK will lose prominent persons. UK’s economy will be threatened. There will be some kind of misunderstanding in the European Union. Trump’s administration will bring troubles to the world and there will be no second term for him; it’s an order from God. Many of his party members will have issues with him and he will have issues with the senate. Prime Minister of the United Kingdom will take wrong steps as regard policies, which may cause rowdy session in the parliament. Ghana will have economic troubles and they will face economic recession, and the second term ambition of Ghana’s president may be threatened. Nigerians will be killed outside the country, especially in South Africa. There will be problems in Guinea and unexpected killings. One government in Africa will be changed. Let us pray against crisis between Nigeria and Cameroun, as there will be attacks at the border. President of Benin Republic may not have a second term. FBI plans will be exposed.

Disasters

Let us pray against train mishap. There will be flood. Let us pray so that there won’t be earthquake that will create panic, such that the earth will experience tremors. There’s a need for prayers. Let’s pray against buildings collapsing, boats capsizing. Let’s pray against fire outbreaks. I’ll also advise that work be done to improve drainage systems across the country to avert flooding that will occur this year.

Others

Some CMDs in hospitals will be changed. Let us pray against fire outbreaks in some of these hospitals. Polio and monkey pox are not yet over. Let us pray against disease and climate change that will create crisis. Traditional institutions in Nigeria will face a lot of challenges. If the Super Eagles get enough motivation for the African Nations Championship (CHAN), they can lift the cup. Besides that, let us pray not to lose a very important person in sports (football). The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) will have a lot of issues which will lead to threats. Glo should pray to avoid problems. 9Mobile may acquire another expansion, but have to be careful to avert issues that will see them facing the law. MTN should pray against fire outbreaks. They will also let go of some of their staff members. There will be network problems. Airtel should pray against attacks on their masts. Let us pray against further land crashes at our local airports. PHCN has not really got their stand. Megawatts generated in the power sector will drop around May/June. Minimum wage will still be an issue and at the end of the day, government may not able to deliver on that. Let us pray against the death of a renowned professor in Nigeria. The Ministry of Education will have issues. There will be issues with the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB).

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