Primate Ayodele says Christianity lacks love, pastors extort members
Primate Elijah Ayodele of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church issued a stark Easter message on April 5, declaring that modern Christianity has abandoned Christ's core teachings. In a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, he accused pastors of extorting church members and focusing on lavish edifices over spiritual development. “There is no love in Christianity, there is no religious tolerance,” he stated, adding that churches prioritize “edifice” instead of building human capacity. Ayodele claimed pastors travel globally seeking wealth while congregants suffer: “Christians are crying because pastors continue to extort members. This isn’t the kind of life Jesus Christ died for.” He lamented that “leadership aura in Christianity has derailed” and genuine God’s presence is now rare.
This matters because Ayodele is a prominent religious leader whose critique reflects widespread frustration with institutional religion in Nigeria. His comments challenge church authorities to self-reflect and urge members to evaluate whether their spiritual communities foster love and selflessness or prioritize showy wealth and control. Given Nigeria’s deeply religious society, such public criticism from within could influence broader conversations about faith, accountability, and spiritual authenticity.
The message forces personal reflection: Does your religious experience emphasize selfless love and tolerance as Christ taught, or does it feel like transactional exploitation? For those sensing “no love” in their pews, Ayodele’s words may validate seeking healthier spiritual environments or demanding institutional reform.