The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Enoch Adeboye, has defended President Bola Tinubu against criticism over the country’s worsening insecurity, saying the President has fulfilled his constitutional responsibility by issuing directives to the nation’s security agencies.
Speaking at the US-Nigeria Faith Heroes Award Gala organised by the Save Nigeria Group in Washington on June 23, Adeboye said it was unreasonable to expect the Commander-in-Chief to personally participate in military operations.
“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),” he said.
Drawing a comparison with the United States, the cleric added:
“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.”
Despite defending the President, Adeboye acknowledged that Nigeria’s security situation has worsened, noting that terrorism and kidnapping, once concentrated in the North, have spread to parts of the South, including areas close to his residence.
“Things have gone far, far worse than before the bomb came,” he said, adding that, “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.”
The RCCG leader also expressed concern that those allegedly financing terrorist activities remain untouched.
“The sponsors — they are all known, and they are still moving about freely.”
Adeboye revealed that he had raised the country’s security concerns with President Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, who is also a pastor in the church. According to him, he advised the President to issue a clear directive to the military leadership.
“Wipe out this rubbish or resign. And then take care of the supporters, the sponsors.”
He maintained that the sponsors of terrorism include influential businessmen and politicians, stressing that Nigeria’s fight against insecurity would remain ineffective unless those providing arms, ammunition and other resources to criminal groups are brought to justice.
“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.”
Adeboye further urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts against those financing and supporting criminal groups while calling on the United States and other international partners to strengthen cooperation with Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.
