The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has criticised a section of President Bola Tinubu’s October 1 Independence Day speech on security, saying whoever wrote the speech for the president “does not like him.”
Speaking during the November Holy Ghost Service at the Redemption City Campground, Adeboye said, “I almost spoke last month when I heard the speech of my in-law (Tinubu), particularly that section that spoke about security. I heard him saying all is well now, that displaced people have returned to their villages. I almost said the one who wrote that speech does not like him. Somebody wrote it, but it was the President who read it. There are several people around Tinubu who are not telling him the truth. The following day, we read that a traditional ruler was killed in Kwara or Kogi.”
Adeboye noted that while the President inherited Nigeria’s security challenges, the focus should now be on taking decisive action to resolve them.
“Our President inherited this problem. I am an applied mathematician; I am only interested in getting the problem solved.”
He also urged the Federal Government to move wisely, diplomatically, and decisively in addressing insecurity and the alleged killings of Christians in some parts of the country.
“If I am asked to make suggestions, I will say quietly to the governments to move wisely, diplomatically. I have cousins. There were times in Nigeria when Christians and Muslims were living together. I have families that are Muslims till date. When I was little, I ate sari with them, and I still eat my breakfast, but the issue of religion started when politics came into religion.”
The cleric said he had privately advised past presidents on the security crisis but noted that his role was limited to offering counsel.
“All the presidents who were around when this trouble started, whatever I discussed is top privacy. I have done my best behind the scenes, but as I have always told you, you can only advise a Commander-in-Chief; you cannot command him. But I have tried. God is my witness.”
Adeboye also called on Tinubu to take firm steps against terrorism by holding the service chiefs accountable for results.
“What should we do now? If I was asked to make suggestions, I would say quietly to our government: move fast, move diplomatically, move wisely. Find a way to convince the President of America to please delay his actions for about 100 days, and then come home and tell our security chiefs to get rid of these terrorists within 90 days or resign.”
He recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari once gave a similar directive but did not ensure it was carried out.
“There was a President, Buhari, who issued such an order. He called the service chiefs together and said, ‘Get rid of these Boko Haram people or resign.’ He ran with that advice, but he did not follow through because he gave the order as the Commander, but he did not follow up. The work was not done after three months, so I went to see him. I asked him, ‘Why did you not proceed with your threat?’ One thing came out of the meeting which will lead me to the advice.”
He further stressed that the fight against terrorism must include efforts to dismantle the networks financing it.
