The Continental Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Continent 3, Pastor Johnson Odesola, has defended the church’s General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, following criticism over his recent comments on President Bola Tinubu and Nigeria’s security challenges.
In a statement titled “Pastor Adeboye Deserves Fair Hearing, Not Unfair Criticism,” Odesola said the revered cleric’s remarks had been taken out of context, insisting that many critics relied on short social media clips instead of listening to his complete speech delivered at the US-Nigeria Faith Heroes Award Gala in Washington, D.C.
According to Odesola, Adeboye did not dismiss the country’s worsening insecurity or seek to shield the Tinubu administration from criticism.
He said the General Overseer acknowledged that terrorism, banditry and kidnapping had spread beyond northern Nigeria into several parts of the South, reflecting the severity of the nation’s security crisis.
Odesola said Adeboye’s comment that Nigerians should not expect the President to “wear khaki and go and fight” was simply an explanation of the constitutional responsibilities of the Commander-in-Chief, rather than an attempt to justify the government’s handling of insecurity.
“He did not defend failure. He simply reminded Nigerians that political leaders provide direction while military professionals execute operations,” Odesola stated.
According to him, the cleric’s remarks should be viewed as a call for those responsible for national security to deliver tangible results rather than an endorsement of poor performance.
“Far from defending incompetence, Pastor Adeboye challenged those responsible for national security to produce results,” he said.
Odesola argued that the most significant aspect of Adeboye’s intervention was his emphasis on identifying and prosecuting those financing terrorism in Nigeria.
According to him, insurgent groups cannot sustain their operations without financial backing, access to weapons, logistics, intelligence and political protection.
“This is perhaps the strongest part of his intervention. Terrorists do not operate in isolation. They require money, weapons, logistics, intelligence and political protection. Every insurgent group survives because powerful individuals somewhere are financing its operations,” he said.
Responding to questions over why Adeboye commented on national security, Odesola said religious leaders have historically played important advisory roles during periods of national crisis.
He cited biblical examples of prophets and spiritual leaders who offered counsel to rulers and confronted injustice, arguing that faith leaders have a moral responsibility to speak on issues affecting society.
He added that Adeboye has consistently prayed for Nigeria and offered guidance to successive administrations regardless of their political affiliations.
While acknowledging that Nigerians are entitled to disagree with the General Overseer’s views, Odesola urged critics to avoid misrepresenting his comments.
He stressed that the country’s security challenges should not be viewed through partisan lenses but addressed through collective action involving government, security agencies, the judiciary, traditional institutions, religious leaders and citizens.