Don’t Beg Trump — He Wants to Profit from Nigeria, Primate Ayodele Warns Tinubu over US Military Threat

The Leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has cautioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against seeking favour or negotiation with former US President Donald Trump following his recent military threats against Nigeria.

Trump had recently warned that the US might consider military intervention over alleged killings of Christians in Nigeria — a statement that has generated intense political and religious debate across the country.

In a statement issued through his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Primate Ayodele advised Tinubu not to “beg Trump,” alleging that the former US leader’s motive was purely economic rather than humanitarian.

“Don’t travel to go and beg Trump; he wants to make money. Tinubu shouldn’t be at his mercy; rather, he should go to God and work well on insecurity,” Ayodele stated.

The cleric recalled that he had warned years earlier that insecurity would threaten Tinubu’s administration, stressing that failure to address the situation could affect his political standing ahead of the 2027 elections.

“I have said that insecurity will cost his government a lot; all he needs to do is wake up and ensure he tackles security well,” he said.

According to Ayodele, the issue raised by Trump “goes beyond genocide,” claiming that the former American president was using the situation as a strategy to negotiate access to Nigeria’s natural resources.

“Tinubu isn’t Trump’s friend from the onset. What the US wants to do is negotiate for Nigeria’s resources. He must be patient and careful about the options they’ll present to him,” he warned.

The prophet further argued that only Nigeria could solve its internal crises, not foreign powers, describing Trump as an opportunist and not a genuine ally.

“It is only Nigeria that can solve its problems; a stranger can’t do it. Trump isn’t God; he just wants to make money. If the US has a genuine mission, they should work with the Nigerian government — the threat was unnecessary,” Ayodele added.