Founder of Omega Fire Ministries Johnson Suleman has questioned President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term, citing economic hardship, insecurity and other challenges facing the country.
Apostle Suleman spoke during a Sunday service in Auchi, Edo State, where he delivered a sermon titled “Power to Get Wealth”. A video of the message circulated on social media on Tuesday.
His comments came amid endorsements for President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election by governors, elders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other political figures.
During the sermon, Suleman said the country’s current condition should raise questions about another term for the president.
“For the first four years, somebody did nothing, and you want to vote for him again? The first term is when people really work. If you fail like this in the first term, what are you going to come back to do again?” he said.
He added that performance should be the basis for re-election.
“Performance is the best form of campaign. If you don’t perform, that’s why you are destroying the opposition because you fail,” he said.
The cleric also referred to the rise in the exchange rate and fuel prices.
“Is the country good? The dollar rose from N460 to N1,500. See fuel. What do you want to come back and do?” he asked.
Suleman said his criticism was not limited to the Tinubu administration, noting that he also spoke against former President Goodluck Jonathan while he was in office.
“When the Chibok girls were kidnapped, and I was speaking about Jonathan, you failed. They were clapping for me,” he said.
He also criticised the political system, saying leadership positions were often decided by selection rather than election.
“You can’t be the local government chairman unless you’re in a clique. It’s not by election. It’s by selection,” he said.
Suleman said Nigerians were not asking for too much but expected government to solve at least one key problem.
“Get one thing right. Nigerians are not asking for too much. If you can’t get power, give us security. If you can’t provide security, let us buy things cheaply. Just do one thing right,” he said.
He said he had publicly commended the government when he believed it took positive steps.
“One December, they subsidised transportation. I said, ‘This is good.’ If it’s good, I will talk. If it’s bad, I will talk,” he said.
He also said he praised the government when the naira gained against the dollar.
“When the Dollar dropped, and the Naira came up, I stood on this pulpit. I commended them,” he said.
Suleman said he was not speaking from a partisan position.
“I’m not at a party. I will say it. If you do well, I will come out and commend you,” he said.
He also spoke about Nigerians relocating abroad, saying many were leaving in search of safety rather than wealth.
“There are people abroad today who are not abroad because they want too much wealth. It’s because they want safety,” he said.
He added that some professionals now take lower-paying jobs overseas because of security concerns.
“That’s why somebody can leave as a medical doctor and become a taxi driver abroad,” he said.
According to Johnson Suleman, many Nigerians abroad still want to return home but remain outside the country because they feel safer there.
“They tell me, ‘I don’t like this place I am in. I want to go back home. But I am safe here,’” he said.
He expressed hope that Nigeria would improve and that citizens would one day travel freely without fear.
“We will be alive, and at 1am, people will travel, and nobody will hurt them,” he said.
