According to a report by The Sun News, on Saturday, July 11, 2026, the Leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, said he is not disturbed by people who describe him as a controversial figure.
He explained that he sees controversy as a natural part of life and believes that without it, life would become boring and lack progress.
The cleric insisted that controversy is not always something negative. Instead, he argued that it can inspire growth, create change, and push people toward success.
According to him, those who achieve remarkable success are often misunderstood or criticized because they challenge opinions and accepted ways of thinking.
Ayodele maintained that he has no problem with people calling him controversial because everyone is entitled to an opinion.
However, he stressed that human opinions are different from God’s judgment.
He added that he believes even God works in ways that people may consider controversial because divine decisions are not always the same for everyone.
To explain his point further, he noted that God blesses people differently and at different times.
While one person may receive a particular blessing, another may have to wait.
He also referred to the differences in time zones across the world, saying that while it may be Saturday in Nigeria, some countries are still on Friday, while others are already experiencing Sunday.
According to him, these differences show that life itself is dynamic and not uniform.
The cleric also addressed the criticism that many people often describe him as a prophet of doom because of the nature of some of his prophecies.
He said such opinions do not bother him because they are based on personal interpretation rather than God’s intention.
Ayodele explained that what many people describe as negative prophecies are actually warnings meant to help people avoid danger.
He gave an example, saying that if God warns someone not to visit a particular place and the person ignores the instruction, any consequences that follow are the result of disobedience rather than God’s desire for harm.
According to him, divine warnings should be seen as opportunities to make better decisions instead of reasons to criticize the messenger delivering them.
Turning his attention to governance and national development, Ayodele expressed concern over the condition of many parts of Lagos, pointing to the presence of garbage in several areas.
He questioned whether such situations reflected good leadership and effective management.
He said, “When you travel to Benin Republic and see how the place is, you think that you are in Europe. Is their country more blessed with resources than we are?”
He immediately answered the question by saying the answer is no. According to him, the difference is not the availability of resources but the level of discipline among the people.
He argued that discipline plays a greater role in national development than emotional reactions.
Ayodele further stated that Nigerians often allow emotions to influence their judgments and responses.
He said whenever difficult truths are spoken, some people quickly assume they are being emotionally manipulated or unfairly criticized.
The cleric concluded by stressing that emotions alone cannot produce effective leadership. In his view, discipline, responsibility, and the willingness to face reality are more important qualities for building a better society and achieving lasting progress….See More