The League of Northern Democrats (LND) has rejected the tagging of the Funlani ethnic stock by the Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, as betrayers who will undermine President Bola Tinubu.
The LND referenced a recent viral video in which Ayodele advised the President against appointing Fulanis into sensitive positions in his administration because they would betray him and cause him “shock” and “pain.”
Addressing the claim on Friday, the group dismissed the primate, saying that he was not only misleading the President but also attempting to plant disunity among Nigerians.
Accusing Ayodele of promoting ethnic bigotry, the LND, in a statement by its Convener, Dr Umar Ardo, denied that the Fulani were betrayals, arguing that, on the contrary, history favoured the ethnic group as being loyal and committed to national development goals.
“Let it be said without equivocation that Primate Ayodele’s postulation is historically false, morally reprehensible and nationally destabilising.
“As a historian, I know that Nigeria’s history does not support Ayodele’s sweeping generalisation. Fulani men and women have served this country with distinction, loyalty and sacrifice. From Sir Ahmadu Bello, who built Northern Nigeria into a model of governance, to General Murtala Muhammad, who sacrificed his life for the sake of the country, to numerous other academics, technocrats, administrators and military officers who equally gave their all for the unity and well-being of this country, the record speaks for itself.
“Betrayals and failures in leadership have never been a portion of the Fulani people. We are a people of honour and excellence”, he said.
According to the group, “What Ayodele is preaching is simply ethnic bigotry, fulbephobia and fulbemisia disguised as prophecy.”
The LND further stated, “For a so-called man of God to single out an ethnic group and brand them as inherently untrustworthy is shameful, hypocritical and unchristian.
“Religious leaders are called to reconcile and inspire, not to incite and divide. If it is wrong to stereotype the Yoruba or the Igbo, or any other tribe for that matter, it is equally wrong to stereotype the Fulani. The double standard exposes the hypocrisy behind his so-called prophecy.
“Such utterances are not prophecy; they are poisonous threats to national unity! At a time when Nigeria is struggling to mend the fractures of ethnicity, religion and mistrust, Primate Ayodele’s words only widen divisions and sow seeds of resentment. To suggest that competence and loyalty can only be judged by tribe is to undermine the very foundation of a united Nigeria.
Appointments into government should never be guided by ethnic suspicion. They must be anchored on merit, integrity, competence and loyalty to the Nigerian state. Every community in this country has patriots and opportunists; the task of leadership is to identify the former, not to demonise entire peoples.
“I therefore call on all Nigerians, especially leaders of thought and faith, to reject and condemn such divisive rhetoric. We must rise above ethnic prejudices if we are to build a republic founded on justice, equity and competence.
“Primate Ayodele owes the nation, and particularly the Fulani, an unreserved apology. His words are not from God; they are from the vault of human bigotry. Nigeria cannot afford such dangerous counsel from its pulpits.”
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