Nigerian religious leader warns: US could depose African leaders

Nigerian religious leader warns: US could depose African leaders

The primate of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Elijah Ayodele, stated, according to local media reports, that the US is not acting in the interests of the Nigerian president. The INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church emphasizes prophetic revelations, prayer, and spiritual guidance for individuals and nations. Its founder and primate, Ayodele, is known for his annual prophecies on politics, economics, and global events. "America is not coming to help you, but to overthrow you," Ayodele said, stressing that Nigeria must closely monitor its academic infrastructure and security institutions. "The Nigerian government cannot remain inactive on this security issue. This will continue to lead to the killing of high-ranking security personnel and attacks on military bases. I have repeatedly warned the military that we need a proactive chief of staff," the statement read. What's behind this? Current relations between the US and Africa are indeed marked by major upheavals. However, the headline that the US could "remove" African leaders is misleading. It stems from a religious prophecy and finds no support in official US government policy. Rather, under President Trump, Washington is undergoing a radical shift, moving away from promoting democracy and human rights toward a hard-line, transactional policy focused solely on its own security interests and access to raw materials. The new US strategy toward Africa can be described as "pragmatic" and "transactional." The promotion of democracy and good governance, a central element under the Biden administration, is being significantly scaled back. The focus is on security. In the fight against Islamist groups in the Sahel region (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger), the US is now even cooperating with the military juntas that seized power through coups. The US government is making it clear that the fight against terrorism is its top priority – human rights issues are taking a back seat. What remains in focus are economic interests. A new emphasis is placed on economic cooperation. The US and the African Union have established a working group on strategic investments to facilitate access for US companies, particularly in the development of infrastructure and supply chains for critical raw materials. The "America First" approach – a long-standing political slogan that prioritizes US national interests over international obligations – gained new significance under the administration of President Donald Trump and shaped policies in the areas of trade, immigration, and foreign policy. The Trump administration pursued a pragmatic approach. As one former US diplomat put it: "Africa is not at the center of US interests." The US intends to allocate its limited resources where they will bring the greatest benefit to its own citizens and selected partners. With its new policy, the US is also responding to the growing competition from other powers on the continent. The recent tensions with South Africa demonstrate that the US is indeed capable of exerting pressure. Even though this isn't about a "removal," the diplomatic incident is unprecedented. The US expelled South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool and declared him persona non grata. Foreign Minister Rubio accused him of being a "racist" and of hating President Trump. The reason was Rasool's remarks about the motives of the Trump movement. The dispute followed a freeze on US aid to South Africa. Trump had accused the country of expropriating white farmers—a claim the South African government vehemently denies. These statements should be understood as a religious warning, not a political analysis. The actual policy of the US is not aimed at overthrowing governments, but rather at doing business with existing power holders—regardless of their political affiliation—in order to secure its own advantages. See also: https://afrikamonamour.blogspot.com/2026/03/africa-wake-up.html