The Pastor in Charge of the Alpha and Omega Parish, Region 17 Headquarters of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, in Bauchi State, Oyeyemi Abiodun Stephen, has blamed personal interests among opposition politicians for their failure to unite ahead of the 2027 general election.
Oyeyemi said the division among opposition figures, including the African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, could weaken efforts to provide a strong challenge to President Bola Tinubu.
The cleric, who recently resumed in Bauchi after serving in Abia State, called on political leaders to put aside personal ambitions and focus on addressing the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians.
Speaking in an interview with DAILY POST, Stephen said the opposition had failed to present a united front because its leading figures were more concerned about their individual ambitions than the country's interest.
“The truth is that, as of today, we don't have united opposition, because of their selfish interests,” he said.
He specifically criticised Atiku for his role in the failed opposition coalition, arguing that the former vice-president should have supported Obi to emerge as the coalition's presidential candidate.
“Atiku was vice-president for eight years; what is he still doing? What is he still looking for? He should have allowed Obi to be the presidential candidate of that union, but he scattered everything,” Stephen said.
The pastor added that an opposition alliance could have a better chance of challenging Tinubu if its members agreed to rally behind Obi rather than allow their differences to frustrate the process.
“If the coalition will be headed by Obi, maybe because of their selfish interests, nothing, it will work. If they can work, they can work. But if it's guided by Obi, then they stand a chance,” he said.
On the qualities Nigerians should expect from candidates seeking the presidency in 2027, Stephen said the next leader must demonstrate the willingness to confront corruption, reduce economic hardship and create opportunities for young people.
“The person should be ready to address the problem of this nation. Address the problem of corruption. Corruption is ruining this nation,” he said.
He expressed concern that despite government policies and claims of economic reforms, many Nigerians were yet to feel any meaningful improvement in their living conditions.
The cleric also questioned reports that Nigeria was spending more than its revenue on debt servicing, saying the situation raised concerns about the management of public finances and the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few individuals.
“I read recently that we are spending 102 per cent of our revenue to fund the debt. 102 per cent? Where do they get two per cent?” he asked.
“That means Nigeria has nothing, because the bulk of the money is in the hands of very few people.”
Oyeyemi said the government must ensure that economic policies translate to tangible benefits for ordinary citizens, particularly workers who are struggling to pay rent, transport themselves and feed their families.
He described the N70,000 national minimum wage as inadequate under the prevailing economic conditions, calling for a substantial increase to enable workers to meet their basic needs.
“The minimum wage in Nigeria should be nothing less than N400,000. That's the truth,” he said.
The pastor explained that the minimum wage could be set at N300,000 if inflation was brought under control, but insisted that workers needed higher pay if the rising cost of living continued.
“Maybe inflation is addressed, then it should be N300,000. If it's not addressed, it should be a minimum of N400,000,” he said.
Oyeyemi said the hardship facing low-income earners was particularly troubling, adding that his experience as a senior pastor had given him an appreciation of the financial pressures confronting ordinary Nigerians.
“By the grace of God, I am a senior pastor, and I know my income. By the grace of God, I have rented an apartment; I know how much is coming in,” he said.
“But when you look at these ones, it's only God that can help them.”
He urged the Federal Government to pay greater attention to young Nigerians, many of whom, he said, were unemployed and uncertain about their future.
According to him, the government should introduce targeted programmes to help young people find jobs and develop their potential, warning that the absence of opportunities could expose some to criminal activities.
“Declare an emergency for youth. The youths are the leaders of tomorrow. Many of them are jobless,” he said.
“That's why many of them are going to Yahoo Yahoo and others. Some are criminals. So, if you have special programmes for the youth, it will help the youth a lot.”
The cleric also called for increased investment in domestic refining, arguing that Nigeria should be producing more of its petroleum products instead of depending on imports.
He questioned why a country with crude oil resources and refineries continued to import finished petroleum products, suggesting that vested interests were undermining local production.
“Let's be producing petroleum products ourselves. We have everything in this country. Why must we be importing fuel? Why must we be importing engine oil and others?” he asked.
Oyeyemi further questioned the impact of the petrol discount announced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to mark the country's 66th Independence anniversary.
He said the announcement had not translated into a noticeable reduction in the price paid by consumers, citing his own experience at the filling station.
“I bought it two weeks ago. N1,420,” he said, referring to the price of petrol per litre.
The pastor described the announcement as a political statement, arguing that the government needed to ensure that such measures produced real relief for Nigerians.
On the wider question of leadership, Stephen said the next president must focus on the needs of ordinary citizens rather than political elites.
He said the country's economic challenges required leaders who were prepared to make the welfare of the masses their priority.
“A leader who will take care of the masses. The masses are hungry. They are tired,” he said.
Oyeyemi added that Nigeria needed divine intervention to overcome its challenges, while urging political leaders to demonstrate greater commitment to the country's development and the well-being of its people.
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