The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has defended recent remarks by its General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on President Bola Tinubu and Nigeria’s security situation, insisting that the cleric’s comments were taken out of context and did not amount to an endorsement of the Federal Government’s handling of insecurity.
In a statement titled “Pastor Adeboye Deserves Fair Hearing, Not Unfair Criticism,” the church’s Continental Overseer for Continent 3, Pastor Johnson Odesola, said critics had relied on short video clips circulating on social media rather than listening to the full address delivered by Adeboye at the US–Nigeria Faith Heroes Award Gala in Washington, D.C.
According to Odesola, Pastor Adeboye did not deny the worsening security situation in Nigeria. Instead, he acknowledged that terrorism, banditry and kidnapping have spread beyond the northern part of the country into several southern states.
He explained that Adeboye’s remark that Nigerians should not expect the President to “wear khaki and go and fight” was intended to highlight the constitutional responsibilities of the Commander-in-Chief, rather than excuse shortcomings in the government’s response to insecurity.
“He did not defend failure. He simply reminded Nigerians that political leaders provide direction while military professionals execute operations,” Odesola said.
The RCCG leader also stressed that Adeboye’s broader message called for greater accountability from those responsible for implementing government policies and ensuring the nation’s security. He argued that isolating one sentence from the sermon had distorted the cleric’s intended message.
Responding to criticism over Adeboye’s comments on national issues, Odesola maintained that religious leaders have historically played an important role in offering moral guidance during periods of national crisis and should not be discouraged from speaking on matters affecting society.
Pastor Adeboye’s remarks sparked widespread debate after he stated that while the President bears responsibility as Commander-in-Chief, it would be unrealistic to expect him to personally participate in military operations. The comments drew mixed reactions, with some interpreting them as a defence of the Tinubu administration’s handling of insecurity, while others argued they reflected the constitutional role of the President.
The RCCG said it hoped the clarification would encourage Nigerians to assess the General Overseer’s comments in their full context rather than through brief excerpts shared on social media.
