Coup Alert: False Prophecy, Says Mahdi Shehu

A public affairs commentator, Mahdi Shehu, has dismissed Primate Elijah Ayodele’s recent prophecy about an alleged coup plot against President Bola Tinubu, describing it as misleading and driven by a false spirit.

Primate Ayodele had warned that “some powerful Nigerians are plotting to remove Tinubu through a coup” between November 2025 and January 2026.

Reacting to the claim on social media, Shehu described the pronouncement as attention-seeking and dangerous. He warned that in a normal society, the cleric could be seen as complicit in treason, given the severity of coup-related accusations.

“In a society where suspects are not selectively treated, the primate should publicly provide names and evidence if he truly knows of a plot,” Shehu said. He urged Nigerians to treat the prophecy with caution and maturity.

Citing several Bible verses, Shehu warned against false prophets and those claiming divine authority without truth. He also criticized what he called double standards in public reactions, noting that if a Muslim cleric had made a similar claim, authorities and the media would have demanded immediate prosecution.

“Even the most naive Nigerians know that a coup is never a viable option, even under a flawed democracy,” he said.

Shehu concluded by describing Nigeria as prone to fake alarms and hypocrisy, urging citizens not to be swayed by baseless or divisive prophecies.