By Samuel Awoyinfa
The first time I met him was during a press conference to announce his annual event to release his book of prophecies.
It was sometimes in December 2023, at his Oke Afa Isolo church. Primate Elijah Ayodele struck me as a pragmatic servant of God with love and passion for humanity.
His selflessness stood out glaringly. Before then I had read a lot about his humanitarian gestures to his brethren in the church and those who are not even members of his church.
He is man of God devoted to giving more than I have seen of any other men of God in the country.
Within his modest means, Primate Ayodele has shown that life is not all about the wealth one has acquired for self and family members, but to impact the lives of others who are under-privileged and living from hand to mouth with one's wealth.
He was the one who started the now popular Palliative Market in which essential goods like bags of rice, packs of noodles, spaghetti, beverages etc are sold to the people in this hard harsh times, at rock bottom prices. Then when bag of 50kg rice rose to about ₦50,000, at his first palliative market he sold it for ₦20,000.
He equally reduced prices of other goods by more than 50 per cent of their actual prices, thus putting smiles on the faces of the under privileged in the society.
He replicated this gesture in Ekiti State a few months back when he went to dedicate the Ikere Ekiti branch of his INRI Church. Thousands of beneficiaries including the aged thronged the venue to partake of goodies at the Palliative Market.
Primate had sermonised that the government should adopt the measure to address hunger in the land.
Many state governors like that of Lagos, Ogun, among others have embraced the idea of the palliative market, even when they would not offer the discounts offered by Primate Ayodele.
During this year's annual event he normally organised, thousands of people benefitted from his philanthropic gestures - Scores were given Keke Marwa, pepper grinding machines, JAMB forms, etc
Primate Ayodele love for religious tolerance also came to the fore as he invited the Muslim leaders who represented the Etsu Nupe who laid the foundation for the mosque he offered to build for the use of the Moslem community.
The mosque is situated about 100 metres away from the church. What a thoughtful leader at home with unity, and harmonious living in a multi-cultural and multi religious country!
Many of his prophecies if not all have hit the bulls eye. Like the biblical prophets, Primate Ayodele had always relayed divine messages to nations, corporate entities, individuals etc, and those that choose to ignore it, do so at their own risk.
Primate Ayodele does not mince words when relaying these messages and he does without fear or favour.
Nigerians and even international communities have now realised that his revelations are real and are no fluke.
Primate Ayodele had foreseen the current hardship being experienced by Nigerians, the assassination attempt on Slovakia Prime Minister, among others and had warned of the consequences.
This man of God deserves a national honour, and the time to honour him is now.
Samuel Awoyinfa, is the Publisher of Newsothemove.com.ng
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