The recent ‘prophecy or statement by a Nigerian preacher, Primate Elijah Ayodele, predicting political crises and a coup against President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has been met with mixed reactions, with some opposition figures hailing the preacher.
Primate Elijah Ayodele, spiritual head of the INRI Evangelical Church in Lagos, Nigeria, sparked a massive political controversy by prophesying that Liberia will face a severe crisis leading up to 2029, calling for President Joseph Boakai to resign, and predicting a possible coup or a tough, chaotic government.
His specific remarks about President Boakai and the country included that President Boakai is “tired” and lacks the willingness to change the country, suggesting that the President should step down. He predicted continued hardship and confusion in Liberia’s economy, warning that the situation would remain disorganized. He warned of a disgraceful rupture between President Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung.
These controversial remarks caused a fiery backlash in Liberia, with government officials, including the head of the Liberia Broadcasting System and Gbarpolu County Senator Amara Konneh, publicly condemning the pastor’s claims as fear-mongering and incitement. Conversely, members of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) came to the clergyman’s defense.
In a social media post, former Montserrado County Representative Acarous Gray noted, “This Boakai government is very dumb, and what kind of diplomatic embarrassment is this, so my people? So, Liberia expects Nigeria to stop a private citizen from freely expressing himself? Is the pastor an official of the government in Nigeria that the government of Nigeria can chastise? So, Liberia wants Nigeria to arrest the pastor? But the Liberian government officials have been insulting the pastor, so Nigeria should write to tell Boakai to also cut off his attack dogs.
Gray furthered, “The Foreign Ministry is a total embarrassment, and Boakai knows all this but failed to complain Guinea to the AU and UN for taking our land. These crooks calling themselves government are very confused and irresponsible to the highest.
On the other hand, the Government of Liberia, through its Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, formally lodged a diplomatic complaint to Nigerian authorities regarding recent provocative prophecies and statements made by Lagos-based cleric Primate Elijah Ayodele.
The cleric had released widely circulated social media videos predicting prolonged political crisis, questioning President Joseph Boakai’s capability, and hinting at the possibility of a coup or unseating in Liberia.
Key aspects of the government’s response include a formal diplomatic protest: The Embassy of Liberia in Nigeria officially complained to the Nigerian government regarding the cleric’s remarks, warning that they could misrepresent Liberia’s democratic progress, damage public confidence, and negatively strain the long-standing bilateral relations between the two West African nations.
Senior Liberian government officials and lawmakers condemned the prophecy, specifically criticizing the suggestions of a coup as dangerous incitement. The Liberia National Police (LNP) officially dismissed false local media rumors that they had launched a criminal investigation into the Nigerian clergyman.
At the same time, Liberia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not issued an official diplomatic response to Nigerian Primate Elijah Ayodele regarding his June 2026 prophecies. The ministry’s official reaction to religious figures has historically been limited to hosting state visits from legitimate clerics to pray for peace. While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs itself has maintained an official silence, several Liberian government officials and senators have heavily criticized the preacher for predicting political crises and a coup against President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
Bishop Elijah Ayodele, head of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church in Lagos, released social media videos predicting that Liberia will face prolonged crises through 2029 and suggested that President Boakai could face a coup.
The Liberian government has not utilized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue a diplomatic démarche or formal reprimand, treating the remarks as domestic or partisan political discourse rather than state-level interference. Various Liberian senators and civil groups have publicly condemned the statements, advising the Nigerian pastor to focus on domestic Nigerian issues instead of destabilizing Liberia.
