Bishop Dr. Theophilus Taiwo Ajose, the President, Ajose Ministries International Inc., and Rector, Prayer and Intercession School, is also the National Secretary, the Evangelical Renewed Ministers of Christ (RMC), and the Director General, Centre for Politics and Governance (CPG), the political arm of the RMC. As the year 2025 is coming to an end, he makes an assessment of the year, even as he speaks on several important topical issues in the polity in this interview with EJIKEME OMENAZU. Excerpt: Could you please give us your overview of the outgoing Year 2025?
2025 is a year that made the world witness a lot of paradoxical events which brought about some surprises in different areas of lives, destinies and nations of the world. I said in my 2025 prophecies that the Lord will use his angels to bring about peace in troubled areas of the world. If you look at what happened in the Middle East, Hamas, etc, it seems there would be an outbreak of war. Also, if you look at the attack on Iran’s facilities, you will think that there would be the Third World War. But, the Lord ensured there was peace. I spoke about Atiku Abubakar leaving the PDP which he said he would not. It was the same thing with Peter Obi of the Labour Party. In essence, the Lord enforced divine peace in the world despite all the confused noises of different political leaders across the world.
The outgoing year 2025 is a year that gave birth to several things that will happen in many years to come. 2025 revealed enemies among friends. Hitherto, friends showed their real colours as their personal interests overwhelmed national interests. Friendly nations and allies became enemies. This shows the direction the world is going. People have to be ready to uphold what will stabilise their personal, regional, national and global interests.
How would you describe the life of Nigerians generally in 2025?
In 2025, life in Nigeria has been very challenging, but not insurmountable. The different government policies brought about a deflation which many people had been experiencing, especially in the areas of foodstuff. However, there are still many areas the government still has to look into, like the area of accommodation and house rents. The government has to look into the landlord cabals that frustrate government’s efforts, especially in Lagos State. In areas of transportation, even though the price of petrol is coming down, the cost of transportation is still high. There should be a regulation concerning this. As in the civilised world, every area should have its price. The government should regulate the cost of transportation. We thank the Lord for what the government is doing to tackle insecurity. But, the government still needs to do more so that people can go about their lawful activities.
How did you see the U.S President Donald Trump’s allegation of Christian genocide in Nigeria? How do you see the way the Nigerian government and a cross section of Nigerians reacted to the allegation?
My personal view is that the issue of Christian genocide was taken out of context by those speaking for and against. There is Christian genocide. It is clear from available data and reports. But, most of them are localised. It is not as if they are targeting Christians generally. But, they do not have to kill all Christians before we say there is Christian genocide. We see a situation where they go to Churches in communities of Christians and kill the people there. The issue of genocide is serious and sensitive. Nigeria has been experiencing several humanitarian crises with reports of genocide, particularly against Christians. This conflict involves various groups including the Boko Haram, ISWAP and Fulani jihadists who have killed several people, displaying millions of people and communities. We have to look at facts and statistics we have. Over 350,000 people have been killed since 2009, with 300,000 being children. More than 2.9 million Nigerians have been forcefully displaced. Boko Haram has been responsible for 37,000 murders. Fulani militias have killed over 71,000 Christians since 2015. Boko Haram said from the beginning that they were waging war against western education, which they feel is being propagated by Christians. They see the killing of Christians as a means of stopping the spread of western education, although Muslims too are being killed.
Do you think the fear of a one party state is real in the country considering the defections of most PDP governors and their states to the ruling APC?
Nigeria is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious. It will be very difficult for all of our political class to be under one political party. In fact, Nigeria can never be under a one-party state structure. What can happen is there can be one mega party like the APC and several smaller parties. A one-party state is not in line with participatory democracy. Most of our politicians are not political leaders. They see joining a political party like going into the market to buy and sell their political dividends. They are not joining political parties for the sake of democracy. As you can see, a lot of them are trying to cover up their evil deeds. They think by doing so, they will be protected. Others are joining the opposition thinking that the arms of the government will not be against them, or else they will start shouting persecution. So, they are all part of the political gimmicks by political warlords. So, they believe that as opposition, they can attack the government anyhow as alibi not to be accosted for their evil deeds. So, the exodus of people from one party to another is a political gimmick either for monetary gains or as a protection from prosecution or persecution. So, Nigeria can never be a one-party state. We are not a military dictatorship or a monarchical regime.
What is your view on the attitude of the average Nigerians to politics and political leadership?
It is unfortunate that Nigerians have turned themselves into political guinea pigs and political minnows and are now in state political inertia. A lot of things are happening in the political arena we do not know. Democracy is the government of the people for the people and by the people. In our own case, the people are no part of the decision making. The people elected to represent them hardly report back to them or hardly take their opinions to either the State Assembly or the National Assembly. So, Nigerians generally, because of the poverty level of the people (and not the nation because Nigeria is not poor, but the people are) their views or demands can be ignored. The key solution is for the people to be active participants and to hold leadership accountable. The people must make up their minds to organise and follow democratic principles, political engagements, and demand accountability from their leadership. They should actively take part in political activities without financial inducements
What is your take on the alleged high level corruption in the oil sector?
The old sector in Nigeria has always been the bedrock and pivot of corruption. Anyone who wants to fix Nigeria must start from the oil sector. There are petroleum industry cabals who control heads of petroleum agencies. Until now, the oil industry cabals have been more powerful than the Presidency. Before the President Tinubu regime, the cabals held the industry hostage. But, now, we have a true politician and a ruler with vision, ruling the country. Before, no one would have dared to remove the head of the Offshore and Downstream sector no matter the allegation. But, within one week, President Tinubu did that in order to sanitise the sector. Now, we expect people to sit up and know that they are not indispensable. Government has to find a way to dismantle the cabals. With what the president has done, everyone in the sector has to sit up as President Tinubu understands the petroleum industry power games.
What is your advice as Nigerians move into 2026?
My candid advice to Nigerians is to pray for Nigeria and the leadership. We must not always be saying or seeing negative things about Nigeria, but to trust God for the future of Nigeria.
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