LAGOS, NIGERIA – In a landmark celebration of national unity and religious tolerance, the Arewa Gamji Emirate Royal Council has conferred the prestigious Wambai Gamji title, a Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardauna Merit Award, upon Primate Elijah Ayodele.
The delegation from Kaduna arrived at the international headquarters of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church on Sunday, March 8, 2026, to honour the prominent cleric for his “unmatched contributions to societal transformation and communal peace.”
The honour follows Primate Ayodele’s recent philanthropic milestone: the construction of a Mosque named after the mother of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The gesture, which was commissioned by the President’s daughter, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, has been hailed as a masterclass in interfaith harmony.
Speaking on behalf of the council, Alhaji Sauda Gamji (Waziri Gamji) emphasised that the title was not merely ceremonial but a recognition of Ayodele's action-based leadership.
"We are here because we have seen your impact. You have become a symbol of unity, not by mouth, but by action.
“By building a Mosque right beside your church, you have sent a message that we are first humans before anything else.
Your passion for the orphans and the less privileged transcends religion,” Alhaji Sauda stated.
Accepting the title, Primate Ayodele expressed his gratitude but used the platform to challenge the Federal Government on the current state of religious mediation in the country.
He called for an immediate reconstitution of the National Interreligious Committee, labelling the current body archaic and inactive.
“The current committee is exhausted; they have nothing left to offer. We need capable leaders, people like those in the Gamji Council, to monitor these dynamics so that peace can flow.
“The government must look into this to ensure we are not just talking about unity, but enforcing it,” Ayodele declared.
Addressing international perceptions, the Primate sent a direct message to the United States government regarding allegations of religious persecution.
“I have told the American government to investigate more deeply. Muslims in Nigeria are not bad; they do not promote genocide.
“Our leaders, both Christian and Muslim, are united against these external threats. We are serving one God,” he added.
Reflecting on his previous opposition to the Muslim-Muslim ticket, Ayodele clarified that his stance was never personal, but based on the need for balance to avoid the perception of Islamising the nation.
Despite the council's suggestion that he deserves a National Honour, the Primate remained humble:
“National honours, or Guinness World Records are worldly. What I want is for God to give me the strength and health to do more. If the people are happy, I am happy.
“If we take care of the people, we eliminate the vacuum that terrorists exploit.”
The high-powered delegation from the North included: Alhaji Sauda Gamji (Waziri Gamji, Kaduna), Alhaji Faruq (Seriki Gamji), Christian Alli (Taraba Representative), Ibrahim Muviru (Sariki Dogere) and Abdul Hameed Bala (Adamawa Representative)
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