A senior pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God has urged Nigerians to stop pressuring the church’s General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye. He said they should not ask him to publicly condemn President Bola Tinubu or make statements that satisfy political expectations. This is important because Adeboye Tinubu criticism continues to provoke national debate.
According to The Punch, RCCG Continental Overseer for Continent 3 covers South West Nigeria and the Middle East. Pastor Joseph Odesola made the call in an article published by Impact Nigeria on Monday. It was later shared on his X account.
Odesola said Adeboye would speak on Nigeria’s political and economic situation whenever he believed the time was right. He argued that religious leaders should not be forced to adopt positions already determined by members of the public, especially with ongoing Adeboye Tinubu criticism.
Odesola defends Adeboye’s silence
The RCCG overseer said there appeared to be growing pressure on Adeboye to criticise Tinubu. Some Nigerians expect the cleric to strongly condemn the President or make religious pronouncements against his administration.
Odesola argued that such expectations were inconsistent with the manner in which a responsible religious leader should operate. Moreover, he said Adeboye had built his ministry around prayer, personal conviction and spiritual responsibility.
“A man of God does not have to speak simply because people are demanding that he speak,” Odesola said.
He maintained that there was a difference between reacting to public pressure and speaking because a religious leader genuinely had something meaningful to contribute. For example, Adeboye Tinubu criticism should not dictate a spiritual leader’s public statements.
According to him, Adeboye could choose to speak, offer private counsel, pray or remain silent. It would depend on what he considered appropriate at a particular time.
Church should not become political platform
Odesola also warned against turning prominent religious leaders into tools for advancing the interests of political groups. In fact, many believe Adeboye Tinubu criticism stems from politicising church leadership roles.
He said religious leaders should be capable of challenging those in government when necessary. However, they must avoid transforming churches into opposition platforms or becoming mouthpieces for any political camp.
The cleric argued that criticism of government did not have to involve insults, anger or dramatic pronouncements from the pulpit.
He maintained that Adeboye should therefore not be pressured into attacking Tinubu merely to prove that he was courageous. Also, Adeboye should not be expected to confront those in power just to satisfy others.
Nigeria’s challenges require religious voices
Despite his defence of Adeboye, Odesola acknowledged that Nigeria was facing serious challenges that required the attention of religious leaders.
He identified poverty, insecurity, unemployment, the rising cost of living, education, healthcare and declining public trust in institutions as issues affecting Nigerians.
Odesola said religious leaders had a responsibility to address such matters. He insisted that their interventions should be responsible and guided by conviction rather than social media pressure.
He added that the country needed voices capable of speaking truth to those in government without hatred. Furthermore, he said leaders should challenge opposition politicians when necessary and provide encouragement to struggling Nigerians.
‘Don’t write his script’
Odesola urged Nigerians to allow Adeboye to determine when and how he would address national issues. Instead of demanding a particular reaction from him, they should let him decide.
He argued that the RCCG General Overseer should be allowed to pray and assess developments before making public pronouncements.
“Don’t write his script for him,” Odesola said.
He added that Adeboye’s refusal to make the kind of statement expected by some Nigerians should not automatically be interpreted as a failure of religious leadership.
Adeboye faces criticism over Tinubu comments
Adeboye has faced criticism from some Nigerians over his public comments on the Tinubu administration. This is especially true regarding his position on the country’s security challenges. To illustrate, Adeboye Tinubu criticism surfaced in response to various public statements.
In June, the RCCG leader argued that Tinubu had performed his responsibility as Commander-in-Chief by directing security forces to confront terrorists. Furthermore, he said the President himself could not be expected to personally fight on the battlefield.
The remarks generated debate, with critics accusing the cleric of being less confrontational towards the current administration than some expected. Thus, Adeboye Tinubu criticism remains a divisive topic in both religious and political circles.
Odesola, however, maintained that public expectations should not determine Adeboye’s statements. He insisted that the strength of a religious leader should be measured by adherence to his convictions rather than the volume of his criticism of political leaders.
