Their prophecies were never marred by frivolity, contradiction, or widespread doubt in the land of Israel. When they spoke, the people listened because the words aligned with God’s unchanging character—prophets were conduits to reveal the mind of God on matters of national importance, personal crises, or impending judgment, and they relayed those revelations faithfully and precisely.
True prophecy, as Scripture emphasizes, is not a tool for confusion but a reflection of divine order. “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33). The Bible issues a stern warning: “Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!” (Ezekiel 13:3). When someone claims to speak for God, the fruit of their words—accuracy, edification, and alignment with biblical truth—must stand the test.
In contemporary Nigeria, Primate Elijah Ayodele of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church has become a prominent figure in prophetic circles. He frequently shares visions on politics, the economy, security, and even sports. While prophecy itself is a biblical gift, and genuine prophets exist, certain aspects of Ayodele’s pronouncements raise serious questions about their source and reliability.
A notable recent controversy involved the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu. Reports emerged that Adelabu petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) over claims that Ayodele demanded expensive items—such as around 1,000 trumpets or saxophones valued at tens or even hundreds of millions of naira—as part of “spiritual intercession” to help him secure the Oyo State governorship in 2027. Ayodele denied extortion, insisting he only advised the minister to acquire the trumpets for his own spiritual benefit and that Adelabu’s desperation drove the interaction. Regardless of the details, the episode fueled public skepticism: Why would a prophet’s guidance hinge on procuring vast quantities of material items? Does this align with the simplicity and purity of biblical prophecy, where God’s direction rarely involves financial or logistical demands from the recipient?
Even more striking is Ayodele’s involvement in football prophecies, particularly during the ongoing AFCON 2025 in Morocco. He repeatedly warned that Super Eagles coach should avoid featuring Ademola Lookman, claiming the player would bring “bad luck” to the team and “will not help them” throughout the tournament. He framed it as a cautionary divine insight, even suggesting alternatives like a different goalkeeper and limiting Victor Osimhen’s minutes.
Yet, Lookman has defied this dramatically. In Nigeria’s opening match against Tanzania, he scored the decisive goal in a 2-1 victory. He followed up with an outstanding performance against Tunisia—scoring once and providing two assists in a thrilling comeback win—earning praise as one of the tournament’s standout performers and joint top scorer at points. Social media erupted with mockery: “The pitch doesn’t recognise prophecies, only goals,” one fan quipped. Others pointed out that Ayodele’s predictions often seem to manifest in the opposite direction.
Ayodele later clarified that his words referred to the entire tournament, not just early matches, and urged patience, claiming misrepresentation by “mischievous individuals.” He maintained his intent was to support Nigeria’s success. But this raises deeper concerns: If a prophecy appears contradicted by events, does the prophet adjust the narrative, or does the word stand firm? Biblical prophets like Jonah (whose prophecy of Nineveh’s destruction led to repentance and mercy) showed flexibility only when God explicitly relented—but never retroactively reframed failure as misunderstanding.
Why does a man of God concern himself so intensely with football outcomes? Sports are entertaining and unifying, but they are not eternal matters of the soul, national destiny, or moral righteousness that Scripture typically addresses through prophecy. When prophets venture into such arenas with specificity—and the results diverge from reality—it invites scrutiny. Public backlash, including subtle references from figures like Pastor Enoch Adeboye cautioning against sensational prophecies, underscores a growing unease.
This pattern—frequent negative or cautionary predictions across politics, security, and now sports—prompts reflection: Are these truly from God, or influenced by personal observation, media trends, or other factors? God speaks peace, direction, and hope, not perpetual doom or confusion. As Jeremiah 23:21-22 warns, true prophets turn people from evil and align with God’s counsel.
I believe in genuine prophecy and the existence of authentic voices today. However, we must test every claim against Scripture and observable reality (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21). To Primate Elijah Ayodele, I offer this respectful advice: Take a step back. Seek deeper communion, humility, and accountability. Prophecy is a sacred trust, not a platform for speculation or controversy.
Nigerians deserve clarity, not confusion. Let true prophets arise who echo the reliability of their biblical forebears—speaking words that build faith, not fuel doubt. Until then, discernment remains our collective responsibility.
Tunji Ajibade is a literary critic and broadcast journalist
