Satguru Maharaj Ji, founder of the One Love Family, has publicly criticised President Bola Tinubu in a video circulating online, accusing the administration of failing Nigerians and calling on the president to step aside. The spiritual leader also questioned claims that he previously supported Tinubu and warned against foreign intervention in Nigeria's affairs.
Maharaj Ji Questions His Alleged Support for Tinubu
In the video, Maharaj Ji directly addressed the narrative that he had once backed President Tinubu. He insisted that as a Nigerian, he could not remain silent if he believed the government was acting against the country's interests. He said, “They said I was the one who stood with Baba Tinubu. I am a Nigerian. Am I blind? Am I a child? Will I see gold and call it stone?”
The One Love Family leader also accused unnamed individuals of disregarding the law and acting in their own interests. He stated, “We know they did not follow the law. They stole and forged the papers, trying to take care of themselves.” The full context of these forgery allegations remains unclear, and it could not be independently established whether the accusation was directed specifically at President Tinubu or at other individuals.
Warnings Against Foreign Intervention and Instability
Maharaj Ji condemned calls for US President Donald Trump to intervene in Nigeria's affairs, warning that the country should not descend into conflict. He claimed that the opposition's desperation to claim power is a deliberate attempt to cause chaos, threatening to plunge the nation into war. He said, “The way they are going, it is the truth that he wants to cause trouble. He thinks that if he does that, our prayers that Nigeria should not descend into war will not be answered.”
He further alleged an ethnic and foreign-backed plot to hijack the nation, referencing the “Igbos” and “Donald Trump.” He insisted that such a plot would ultimately fail, saying, “That is why they are hoping Donald Trump comes in, that the Igbos come in, that Nigeria will become easy...No! They have sold themselves out, and it will not be possible. But it is not possible. Nigeria will be free from their hands.”
Appeal to National Identity and Ibadan's Hospitality
Maharaj Ji framed his criticism as a matter of national interest, arguing that his identity as a Nigerian means he cannot ignore what he considers wrongdoing. He also invoked Ibadan's reputation as a city that accommodates people from different backgrounds, while insisting that such hospitality should not be abused.
The video ends with Maharaj Ji predicting that the courts will inevitably throw out the opposition's challenges, backing this with a spiritual declaration that the “Almighty” will not allow them to take control of the land. He said, “Any moment from now, let the government or the court respond and tell them, ‘No, Baba, pack your load, because Almighty did not sell you the land.’ That is how it is.”
