Primate Elijah Ayodele, leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has warned that kingship in Nigeria is poised to shift from a sacred traditional institution to a politicised office. According to a statement issued by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Ayodele foresees a future where traditional rulers may be replaced during their lifetime—breaking from the age-old custom that a king must die before a successor ascends.
Ayodele explained, “Traditional stools will be disrespected and reduced to nothing because of politics. Many rulers will be taken for granted while governments start looking down on them.” He added, “They will be relegated because of politics. They will be forced into politics, or they will lose relevance. A time will come when a traditional ruler will not have to die before another one emerges. The stools will become politicised because oracles won’t be consulted; it will be a political office.”
Highlighting the vulnerability of eminent monarchs including Emirs, Obis, Obas, and Ezes, the prophet predicted, “Some prominent kings will be reduced to nothing as their local governments begin to control them. Some will be taken for granted, and the government will start looking down on them.”
Ayodele also sounded an alarming note about the fate of some traditional rulers in the near future. “I see bad days ahead. In Nigeria, some kings will be arrested and imprisoned. Respect for traditional rulers will drastically decline because of growing political interference.”
He foretold a period of significant reform as government measures tighten oversight on traditional institutions. “There will be so much politics introduced into the stool system regardless of class, resulting in a loss of relevance. The honour and respect once accorded kings will diminish,” Ayodele concluded.
