As bandits and unknown gunmen run riot across Nigeria, Femi Adesina has blamed evil forces (aiye) for the misfortunes plaguing President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime.

Mr Adesina, the president’s media aide, the regime, and the ruling party, All Progressives Congress, have often blamed the major opposition party for the country’s problems until now.

“When you are high-flying, the centrifugal forces will come against you, and it would only take the grace of God for you to attain,” said Mr Adesina. “Yoruba people call those forces Aiye. When Aiye is on your case, as it was against Man City, and it is against the Buhari government, you need God, and God alone.”

Expatiating his point, he stated, “Aiye (meaning ‘the world,’ if freely translated) is the negative part of mankind. The pernicious, baleful, sly and scheming part of humanity. If Aiye gets on your matter, you need God and God alone.”

According to the presidential spokesman, just as some forces worked against Manchester City last season, some forces are working against Mr Buhari regime’s success.

“Recall what happened in the 2019/2020 season. Man City was eyeing a treble. Three back-to-back seasons as champions, and a record in English football. But the adversaries knew the record that was to be set, so they arrayed themselves against the team,” Mr Adesina asserted.

“Just as some forces knew the record that was to be achieved by Muhammadu Buhari as Nigerian President,” he claimed, “and which he had begun to show since 2015 when he got into office, and they (adversaries) positioned against the government.”

Though Mr Adesina provided no evidence to back up his claim, in 2015, former presidential spokesperson Reuben Abati had in an article claimed that there were spiritual forces in Aso Rock.

Mr Abati claimed that the spiritual forces were behind mysterious fire outbreaks in the Presidential Villa, deaths, and below-the-belt paralysis suffered by some individuals who worked with former President Goodluck Jonathan.