Monrovia – The controversy surrounding a dire prophecy against President Joseph Boakai by Nigerian cleric Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele has deepened, with prominent Liberian religious leader Bishop Kortu Brown questioning the government’s response while the Nigerian government has officially disowned a purported diplomatic letter circulating on social media.
By Augustus D.R. Bortue and Gerald C. Koinyeneh
The dispute began after Ayodele, founder of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church in Nigeria, predicted political misfortune for President Boakai, including the claim that the Liberian leader would fail to secure a second term in office.
The prophecy prompted a strong reaction from Liberia’s Embassy in Abuja, which publicly expressed concern over what it described as the Nigerian preacher’s persistent derogatory comments.
In a statement, the Liberian mission stressed that while Nigeria’s constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and religion are respected, public comments about friendly nations and their democratically elected leaders should be made responsibly.
“While fully respecting Nigeria’s constitutional commitment to freedom of expression and freedom of religion, the Embassy considers it important that public statements concerning friendly foreign states and their democratically elected leaders be made responsibly and in a manner that promotes mutual respect and cordial relations,” the embassy stated.
The embassy further warned that Ayodele’s repeated remarks could negatively affect the historically cordial relationship between Liberia and Nigeria.
“The Embassy is particularly concerned that the persistent derogatory statements made by Primate Ayodele could undermine the longstanding brotherly relationship between the peoples of Liberia and Nigeria,” the statement added.
However, the embassy’s response has drawn criticism from some quarters, including Bishop Kortu Brown, former president of the Liberia Council of Churches, who questioned why the government would elevate a prophecy to the level of a diplomatic concern.
In a statement titled “I Am Utterly Shocked by Govt’s Response to Nigerian Prophecy,” Brown said he was surprised by the intensity of the government’s reaction.
“Given Liberia’s claims to being established on Christian principles, I am shocked about the level of response from government functionaries about a reported Nigerian primate’s prophecy concerning the Liberian Government,” Brown said.
“I didn’t expect that the functionaries of government would give such credence to a prophecy they don’t believe in, given that they considered him a ‘fake’ prophet.”
Brown emphasized that no Liberian wishes harm upon the country and rejected any suggestion of political change outside the democratic process.
“No Liberian, not even me, wants to see any bad thing happen to Liberia. Any inference to any change of government outside the democratic process is not only unwelcome but outrightly rejected because Liberia has paid the price with her blood, tears, and sweat for the sustenance of democracy, rule of law, free speech, human rights, and other democratic values,” he stated.
“So, there’s no turning back. This country, Liberia, must march forward.”
The veteran clergyman argued that Liberia must remain open to differing opinions, whether favorable or unfavorable.
“Nonetheless, the country must be open to all shades of opinions, whether good or bad. For a country like ours, with the reported sophistication we have in government, to be distracted from the affairs of state by a foreign pastor’s spiritual assessment of the country and to diplomatically engage a foreign country on such an intervention surprises me,” he said.
Brown also offered a biblical perspective on prophecy, explaining that Scripture distinguishes between foretelling and forth-telling.
“Prophecy is biblically considered in foretelling and forth-telling, with the former dealing with declarations in the present and the latter dealing with predictions of future events. Unlike predicting the future, forth-telling focuses on speaking God’s will into a present situation to bring comfort, correction, or encouragement,” he explained.
He further cited Deuteronomy 18:21-22, which states that the validity of a prophecy is ultimately determined by whether it comes to pass.
“If we believe in God’s word and also believe that the prophecy is not true, why then worry? Why all the curses and condemnations? Why go to the extent of complaining about a private citizen to their government for remarks made in public?” Brown asked.
“I believe that Liberia has very serious challenges before us, and we must focus on finding solutions to our myriad problems. We must also be tolerant of the assertions of other people, however distasteful. We must approach any prophecy, whether foretelling or forth-telling, through the biblical lens.”
Ayodele, for his part, responded defiantly to reports of Liberia’s complaint, escalating the public feud.
“President Boakai, your government is satanic. President Boakai, you will not win a second term in office,” the Nigerian preacher declared.
“You reported a Nigerian pastor to the Nigerian Government. However, a Nigerian pastor’s message and prophecy will ensure that you do not win a second term. In my view, you have already lost your chance of securing a second term.”
Ayodele further suggested that the Liberian government should focus its attention elsewhere.
“Rather than writing to the Nigerian Government, you should write to President Donald Trump and his administration. I am not speaking categorically, but I am expressing my prophetic warning,” he added.
The cleric also claimed that Liberians are facing economic hardship under the current administration.
“There is hardship under your government. Are the people not suffering? In 2020, I told former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo that his government was satanic,” Ayodele said.
Continuing his criticism, he stated: “Instead of humbling yourself before the word of God, you chose to write to the Nigerian Government and report an important man of God. President Boakai, go and do your worst. There will be further hardships in your country.”
Ayodele further argued that Liberian officials should have advised the president differently.
“Your government officials should be guiding you, yet they are allowing you to write letters to the Nigerian government complaining about a man of God because of his message to you. President Boakai, you will suffer. I thank the Nigerian government for its response,” he said.
Meanwhile, another twist emerged after a purported letter allegedly issued by Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the matter began circulating online. Nigerian authorities swiftly dismissed the document as fraudulent.
In a statement issued by ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the Nigerian government categorically denied authoring the letter.
“The Ministry wishes to categorically state that the said letter is fake, unauthorised, and did not emanate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or any official channel of the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the statement said.
“The Ministry, therefore, urges members of the public, media organisations, and stakeholders to disregard the purported letter in its entirety and refrain from circulating unverified documents that are intended to mislead the public.”
The development has added a new layer of confusion to an already contentious dispute that has evolved from a religious prophecy into a diplomatic and political controversy.
As debate continues in both Liberia and Nigeria, the incident has sparked broader discussions about the limits of prophetic pronouncements, freedom of expression, government responses to religious commentary, and the role of diplomacy in managing disputes involving private citizens.
For now, what began as a controversial prophecy has transformed into a cross-border war of words involving religious leaders, diplomats, government officials, and members of the public in two of West Africa’s most influential nations.
