In a statement issued by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, the cleric said the chant might appear ordinary but carried a deeper significance that could pose a challenge to Tinubu’s re-election campaign ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ayodele claimed that many people in the North had lost confidence in the President and were increasingly dissatisfied with his administration. He also warned that Tinubu could encounter unpleasant situations if he visited some parts of the region to campaign.
“Tinubu must be careful about going to the North because they don’t want him. They don’t trust him with power, and they are not happy with the government. This has gone beyond the leaders because the masses are not interested in listening to their leaders; they just want a new government, and this is why the Bamayi chant is spreading rapidly in the North.”
Describing the chant as more than a political slogan, the cleric said it represented a spiritual movement that could affect the President’s chances at the polls.
“Bamayi may look like an ordinary chant, but it is a spiritual movement designed to remove Tinubu from power. He needs to take it seriously; otherwise, there will be a lot of issues for him at the election, even before election day.”
Ayodele further predicted that the movement could spread beyond the grassroots and affect some serving governors, senators and members of the House of Representatives, adding that the ruling party had yet to appreciate its potential impact.
“The ruling party hasn’t seen what this is all about, and it will extend to some state governors, senators, and House of Representatives members. It is a campaign to remove the ruling party, and the northerners are ready for this. Bamayi will do a lot because it is real. Tinubu should not take it for granted because it will send a lot of people away.”
The cleric maintained that the movement had an identifiable source and argued that the President would struggle to contain it unless that source was discovered.
He also urged the ruling party to take immediate steps to address the growing opposition, warning that the rejection of some candidates could become more pronounced before and during the elections.
“They must not joke with it but quickly adjust and do all that is needful. There will be so much rejection before the election and during the election. Some candidates may not even be allowed to vote because of this. Bamayi is the opposite of ‘Emilokan’. People will come out en masse to vote despite the fact that they want to disenfranchise some of them.”
Ayodele’s comments come amid growing political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the ‘Bamayi’ chant increasingly featuring in discussions about opposition to the Tinubu administration in parts of the North.
