Primate Elijah Ayodele, the Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Lagos, has denied allegations of defamation levelled against him by former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, insisting that his comments were based on divine revelations and not intended to tarnish the politician’s image.
Ayodele’s reaction follows reports that Kwankwaso, who is the running mate to Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), threatened to institute a N10 billion defamation lawsuit against the cleric over remarks he described as defamatory.
Responding to the development, the cleric maintained that he never defamed the former governor, stressing that he merely conveyed a prophecy he claimed to have received from God regarding the political future of the NDC and its leadership.
According to Ayodele, prophecies are spiritual messages intended to guide individuals and society, adding that his statements were not motivated by malice or personal attacks against Kwankwaso.
He argued that as a religious leader, it is his responsibility to communicate revelations as they are received, regardless of whether those affected agree with them or not.
The controversy arose after Ayodele reportedly made comments concerning Kwankwaso’s political prospects, prompting the former governor to consider legal action and seek damages amounting to N10 billion.
While reiterating his respect for Kwankwaso, the cleric maintained that he acted within the bounds of his religious calling and expressed confidence that he had not committed any act of defamation.
As of the time of filing this report, Kwankwaso had yet to publicly respond to Ayodele’s latest remarks, while political observers continue to monitor the unfolding dispute between the prominent politician and the cleric.
About The Author
