“Tell Us the Name, Baba”: An Open Letter Questions Prophecy in Nigerian Politics

By Idowu Adebomi

In his quiet corner, Idowu Adebomi set his phone down and stared at the blinking cursor. The pastor’s words had been replaying in his head since Sunday service — “God has already decided who becomes Nigeria’s President.”

Idowu was no stranger to faith. He’d grown up on Bible stories of Samuel anointing Saul, of Elisha sent to name Jehu king, of prophets who spoke names, lineages, and outcomes with unsettling precision. Jehovah do make bold pronouncements, he thought. God never dealt in halves.

But this? This felt different.

So he wrote. Not out of anger, but out of that restless place where reverence meets doubt.

Dear Papa Adeboye,

He began with humility, because in Nigeria you don’t just write a General Overseer without it. With all humility and respect sir… He laid out his case carefully. God decides kingship, yes — the Bible is full of it. Samuel went to a particular family for Saul. When Saul fumbled, God pointed straight to David. Elisha was sent to anoint Jehu. Even foreign kings — Benhadad, Hazael, rulers of Syria and Edom — were named by prophets.

God do not give half visions or statements, Idowu typed.

Then came the pivot. But from the days of Christ, i have not read anywhere in the Bible where God gave nations rulers. It all bore down to conquests, politics and whims of the strongest.

The room was still except for the ceiling fan. Outside, danfo horns battled for space on the Ajilosun Road. 2027 felt far away, but in Nigeria, the next election is always around the corner.

If God had truly spoken, Idowu reasoned, then let the pattern hold. No riddles. No political undertones. Just the name.

However, if truly God has spoken Baba i bessech you to kindly tell us the name of the person that will win the presidential election in 2027!!

He added Thank you sir! — because respect matters, even when you’re asking the hard questions.

He hit send.

The letter spread. Past WhatsApp groups, onto X, into pulpits and pepper-soup joints. Some called it disrespect. Others called it courage. But in every share, the same question echoed:

When does prophecy end and politics begin? And if heaven has already voted, why keep the ballot a secret?

In a country where faith and governance walk hand in hand, Idowu’s letter did what few sermons dared — it asked God’s spokesman to finish the sentence.