The recent controversy surrounding the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has drawn renewed attention to a prophecy made by the Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, more than a year before the allegations surfaced.
Gbajabiamila has found himself at the centre of a growing public debate following allegations linking him to an alleged appointment-for-cash scandal involving the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). Although the Presidency has dismissed the claims and described the agency as unauthorised, the controversy has continued to generate widespread reactions across the country.
The allegations were made by the Director-General of the PFIPC, Adeniyi Adeyemi, during a press conference in which he accused the Chief of Staff of demanding financial inducements in connection with his appointment.
According to Adeyemi, Gbajabiamila allegedly received N400 million through a proxy and later demanded an additional N200 million to facilitate his appointment. He further alleged that the Chief of Staff requested 48 per cent of the council's proposed N27.4 billion take-off grant, a demand he claimed to have rejected.
The allegations immediately sparked intense public scrutiny and reportedly created unease within the Presidency. In response, Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga issued a statement dismissing the claims, maintaining that the PFIPC was not an officially recognised government agency and distancing the Presidency from the controversy.
While the allegations remain unproven and no official investigation has established any wrongdoing against Gbajabiamila, the development has nevertheless revived public interest in a prophetic warning delivered by Primate Ayodele in May 2025.
In a widely circulated video released at the time, the renowned cleric cautioned the Chief of Staff about attempts by certain individuals to tarnish his reputation.
Addressing Gbajabiamila directly, Primate Ayodele said:
"I have these words for Gbajabiamila. Honestly, some people will not support you, while some are ready to damage your reputation. Just keep quiet, I am not saying you should believe what I am saying."
At the time the prophecy was released, there was no public controversy involving the Chief of Staff that reflected the warning. However, following the emergence of the current allegations, many observers and followers of Primate Ayodele's prophecies have pointed to the prediction as one they believe aligns with recent events.
Primate Ayodele has built a reputation over the years for issuing prophecies concerning political leaders, governments, institutions and nations. According to the cleric, his prophetic messages are intended to serve as warnings that enable recipients to take precautionary measures rather than predictions of unavoidable outcomes.
His supporters frequently argue that many public office holders ignore these warnings when they appear unfavourable, only to encounter situations that mirror the prophetic messages later. Critics, however, maintain that such prophecies are open to varying interpretations and should not be viewed as evidence of future events.
As the controversy surrounding the PFIPC continues to unfold, attention remains focused on whether the allegations will be subjected to further investigation and what implications they may have for those involved. For now, the Presidency has firmly rejected the claims, while the allegations against Gbajabiamila remain unsubstantiated.
Regardless of the eventual outcome, the incident has once again placed Primate Ayodele's prophetic declarations at the centre of national discourse, reinforcing the significant public attention his messages continue to attract whenever major political developments emerge.
