Primate Elijah Ayodele, founder and head of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, says N150 million is not enough to buy his shoe.
Speaking during a service at his church in Oke Afa, Lagos, on Sunday, the cleric claimed Bayo Adelabu, minister of power, is upset because he anticipates losing another attempt to become governor of Oyo.
Ayodele was responding to TheCable’s report that Adelabu petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS), accusing him of blackmail and trying to extort N150 million for “spiritual intercession” to secure the Oyo governorship.
Adelabu, who has contested the Oyo governorship election twice, plans to run again in 2027.
The minister alleged that Ayodele demanded 1,000 saxophones/trumpets, with the cheapest Nigerian-grade costing N50 million and imported grade-one from China at N130 million. Adelabu claimed refusing the cleric’s demands led to false prophecies aimed at tarnishing his reputation and political ambition.
Ayodele, in a statement on Saturday, denied attempting to extort Adelabu, saying the minister approached him in desperation and expressed willingness to do anything to become governor.
During the church service, Ayodele described Adelabu as “a boy” who “doesn’t understand what he is saying,” dismissing the N150 million allegation: “The shoe I wear, can N150 million buy it?”
He added, “I can’t disappoint you. I can only disappoint you when you are not a good person. I carry something bigger than me. I am not doing prophecies to impress you or invite you to me. I don’t do prophecies for you to come and do enquiries. Take it, or you leave it.
“If I collected money, I would openly say I collected money. But I did not collect money, and I did not invite him. So, the boy doesn’t understand what he is saying. He is a boy. He doesn’t understand. Don’t give power to those who have mouth diarrhoea.
“Can N150 million buy my car? The shoe I wear, can N150 million buy it? Leave that person alone. He is a small boy. He knows he has lost; that’s why he is pained.”