A former governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Adamawa State, Dr. Umar Ardo, has accused the leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, of ethnic bigotry against the Fulani people.
Ardo made the claim while reacting to a recent video clip by the primate in which he warned President Bola Tinubu against appointing Nigerians of Fulani extraction into sensitive positions of government.
He said the cleric further alleged that such appointments would lead to betrayal, “shock” and “pain” for the President.
Ardo, who described the comments as careless, said he was forced to react because it was coming from a man “who parades himself as a priest and who commands attention of gullible followers, silence would amount to condoning falsehood, bigotry and dangerous incitement.”
Ardo said Primate Ayodele’s postulations were historically false, morally reprehensible and nationally destabilising.
The former gubernatorial candidate said as a historian, he knows that Nigeria’s history does not support Ayodele’s sweeping generalisation.
He said Fulani men and women have served Nigeria 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 wellbeing of this country, the record speaks for itself,” Ardo said.
He added that betrayals and failures in leadership have never been a portion of the Fulani people, declaring that, “We are a people of honour and excellence.”
He lambasted the cleric for singling out an ethnic group and branding them as inherently untrustworthy was 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 threat 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,” he stated.
Ardo added that appointments into government offices 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. He should be ashamed of himself! He is a disgrace to the Cassock he is wearing,’’ he stated.
