*Cleric Task FG On Insecurity
THE Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has refuted claims regarding the political stance of its General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, his alleged involvement in calling off a planned protest and accusations that he has remained silent on burning issues affecting Nigeria, especially insecurity.
In a statement on Tuesday, June 2, on its official public relations X handle, the Church clarified that Adeboye has consistently encouraged members of the church to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participate in the electoral process by voting for candidates of their choice.
According to the statement, Adeboye has maintained a neutral position regarding political parties, stressing that RCCG members belong to different political affiliations and should exercise their civic rights responsibly.
The church descibed as false, claims that its general overseer called off a planned protest, saying he merely communicated the directive of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) concerning an adjustment to the activities of a three-day prayer programme.
The revised arrangement, it explained, involved holding the grand finale at a centralised venue and organising a rally around the venue.
The statement further explained that the directive originated from the PFN and was communicated to all churches under its umbrella across Nigeria.
While dismissing allegations that Adeboye had intentionally remained silent on developments in the country, the RCCG recalled that its leader had, on several occasions, publicly addressed critical national issues including insecurity, corruption, economic hardship, elections, governance and the need for righteous leadership.
The statement, however, explained that Adeboye often approached such matters through moral guidance, prayer and counsel, rather than partisan political engagement or confrontation, emphasising that neither Adeboye nor the church should be defined by false narratives and inaccurate representations.
It urged the public to rely on the church’s designated communication channels and authorised representatives for information relating to Adeboye and the RCCG, advising that any claim not communicated, verified or endorsed through its official communication platforms should not be regarded as an official position of the RCCG.
The statement also charged bloggers, commentators, media organisations and content creators/publishers to uphold the principles of responsible journalism by verifying information before publication.
It stressed that accuracy and fact-checking are essential in reporting matters concerning Adeboye and the church, warning against the spread of speculation and unverified claims, adding that though the public deserves truthful information, the church deserves fair representation, and Adeboye deserves accurate reporting.
The RCCG urged the public to verify information before believing or sharing it, restating that truth and accuracy should remain paramount in public discourse.
“Verify before you believe. Fact-check before you publish. Truth matters,” the statement concluded.
In a related development, the general overseer has urged the Federal Government to give security chiefs a 90-day ultimatum to end terrorism in Nigeria or resign from their positions.
Adeboye, in a video re-shared on his official X account on Tuesday, while expressing concern over the country’s security challenges and threat posed by terrorist groups, said those entrusted with the country’s security should be held accountable for delivering tangible results in the fight against terrorism.
“If I were asked to make suggestions, I would say quietly to our government, ‘Move fast and tell our security chiefs, get rid of these terrorists within 90 days or resign,” he said, while also charging government to intensify efforts against individuals and groups providing financial and logistical support to terrorist organisations.
He said security operations should not only target armed terrorists, but also those sponsoring and facilitating their activities, regardless of their status or influence, adding: “When giving orders to the service chiefs this time around, we should make it clear to them that they are not only to eliminate the terrorists; they should eliminate their sponsors, no matter how influential they may be.”
Coming on the heels of renewed public concern and protest over insecurity in parts of the country, including recent incidents of abduction of school children and their teachers in Oyo State and other places, Adeboye noted that religious leaders can only offer advice to political authorities, but that the final responsibility rests with the commander-in-chief.
He recalled giving a similar counsel to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, who gave security chiefs deadline to tackle Boko Haram, but regretted that the directive was not fully achieved within the timeframe, because he didn’t follow it through.
He urged the President Bola Tinubu administration to ensure that any directive given to security chiefs goes beyond neutralising terrorists to also targeting those who finance and support them.
