The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has defended President Bola Tinubu over criticism of his handling of Nigeria’s security challenges, while urging the international community to support the country’s fight against terrorism.
Speaking at the US-Nigeria Faith Heroes Award Gala organised by the Save Nigeria Group in Washington on June 23, Adeboye said it was unfair to hold the president solely responsible for the nation’s worsening insecurity.
“I need to make this one clear: I don’t support those who are accusing the president of not doing enough. When the commander-in-chief has given instructions to his subordinates, he has done his bit. You don’t expect him to go and put on khaki and fight,” Adeboye said.
Drawing a comparison with the United States, the cleric explained that the role of a commander-in-chief is to issue directives, not personally take part in military operations.
“When my friend Trump gives instructions to go and bomb anywhere, he doesn’t leave the White House. He has done his bit. ‘I hereby command, bomb Iran,’ and then he goes to his bedroom and sleeps. The rest is left to the supporters,” he added.
Despite defending Tinubu, Adeboye acknowledged that insecurity has worsened across the country, noting that terrorism and kidnapping have spread beyond northern Nigeria into the South.
“Things have gone far, far worse than before the bomb came,” he said.
“The terrorism, kidnapping and so on that were in the North are now even at my doorstep. They have come all the way down to the South. And, of course, the sponsors—they are all known, and they are still moving about freely.”
The RCCG leader revealed that he had personally raised the issue with President Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, urging the president to issue a 90-day ultimatum to the nation’s security chiefs to eliminate terrorism or step down.
“I told him to tell all the military boys, all the army, navy and air force: ‘You have 90 days. Wipe out this rubbish or resign.’ And then take care of the sponsors,” he said.
Adeboye argued that those financing and arming terrorist groups are well-known individuals, including influential politicians and wealthy businessmen, and insisted that going after them is essential to ending the violence.
“You know them. Some of them are businessmen. Some of them are politicians. Go after them. Because if you do not deal with those who are supplying these people with arms and ammunition… the problem will continue,” he said.
He also appealed to the United States and other countries to work with Nigeria in tackling terrorism, stressing that stronger international cooperation is needed to defeat the threat.
