The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has predicted a dramatic shift in Nigeria’s traditional institution, warning that kingship in the country will increasingly transform into a political position rather than a sacred traditional role.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Primate Ayodele revealed that the traditional process of succession — where a king is replaced only after death — will be disrupted, as political interference will lead to the removal and replacement of monarchs during their lifetime.
“They will be relegated because of politics, they will be forced to be into politics, or they will lose relevance. There will be a time when a traditional ruler will not have to die before another one emerges, the stools will be politicized because they won’t bother to consult oracles, it will become a political office,” he said.
The cleric warned that the sanctity and respect traditionally accorded to royal stools would be eroded. According to him, traditional rulers such as Emirs, Obis, Obas, and Ezes will be undermined by local governments and subjected to political control.
“Some prominent kings, including Emirs, Obis, Obas, Ezes, will be reduced to nothing because their local government will start controlling them. Some of them will be taken for granted, and the government will start looking down on them,” Ayodele noted.
He further predicted a future where traditional rulers would face arrests and imprisonment, pointing to a loss of honour and widespread political influence over royal institutions.
“There will be so much politics that will come into the stool regardless of the class, and I see them losing relevance. In Nigeria, some kings will be arrested and imprisoned; I am seeing bad days ahead for traditional rulers,” he warned.
“The honour and respect given to rulers will drastically reduce. I see a kind of reform by the government to seriously checkmate the traditional rulers,” Ayodele added.
