Group Warns Primate Ayodele To Desist From Hate Speech And Verbal Attacks Against The Igbos, Says “It’s Unbecoming Of A Clergy”
According to a Press release by a group, the Forum of South-East Academic Doctors ( FOSAD) on Monday 17th November 2025, which was made available to Trustbase News, totally condemned the verbal attacks and hate speech by Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele that was seen viral in recently, where he attributed the problems of Nigeria as caused by the Igbos. As he further says that the Igbo are desperate for power and are incapable to rule Nigeria, due to the curses on the Igbos.
In condemning his actions, FOSAD says his statement is not only reckless but highly divisive and unbecoming to a clergy.
The group however praised the Igbos as a major and fundamental contributors to national development in industry, innovation, entrepreneurship, education, and public service.
The statement reads:
The Forum of South-East Academic Doctors (FOSAD) strongly condemns the inflammatory and deeply offensive remarks credited to Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele, in which he described the Igbo people as “the problem of this country,” “desperate for power,” “cursed,” and incapable of leading Nigeria.
As an organization of scholars dedicated to peacebuilding, national unity, and intellectual maturity, FOSAD finds these statements not only reckless but dangerously divisive. No responsible religious leader should deploy the pulpit to spew ethnic hatred or promote stereotypes that undermine the delicate fabric of national cohesion.
The Igbo ethnic group, like every other major group in Nigeria, has contributed immensely to national development through industry, innovation, entrepreneurship, education, and public service. To single them out for demonization is not only historically false but morally reprehensible.
It is deeply troubling that a cleric who ought to be a voice of moderation, spiritual guidance, and moral clarity has instead chosen to propagate sentiments that can incite hostility, deepen mistrust among ethnic groups, and sow seeds of discord in a country already battling ethnic tensions.
FOSAD therefore issues a firm warning to Primate Ayodele to desist henceforth from making hate speeches or derogatory statements against the Igbo people or any ethnic group in Nigeria. Such utterances violate the ethical expectations of religious leadership and contradict the message of peace and love that spiritual institutions are meant to uphold.
We call on the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), and other relevant religious bodies to caution Primate Ayodele and ensure that their members refrain from weaponizing religion against any section of the country.
Nigeria cannot make meaningful progress if public figures especially clergy fuel ethnic antagonism from sacred platforms meant for worship and spiritual upliftment. FOSAD encourages Nigerians to remain vigilant against divisive rhetoric and to continue promoting unity, justice, and mutual respect among all ethnic groups.
The Igbo people will not be intimidated nor defined by hate speech. They remain committed to a peaceful, prosperous, and united Nigeria built on equity and fairness.
Signed:
Dr Stephen Nwala
President
Forum of South-East Academic Doctors (FOSAD)
Dr Uzor Ngoladi
Secretary General
Forum of South-East Academic Doctors (FOSAD)
