The Continental Overseer for Continent 3 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), covering South-West Nigeria and the Middle East, Pastor Joseph Odesola, has urged Nigerians not to pressure the church’s General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, to speak publicly against President Bola Tinubu.
Odesola said Adeboye would address the country’s political and economic situation when he believed the time was right.
He expressed the position in an article published by Impact Nigeria on Monday and shared on his X account with the caption, “Pastor E.A. Adeboye Will Speak Only When God Says Speak.”
Odesola said there was growing pressure on religious leaders, particularly Adeboye, to comment on the policies and performance of the Tinubu administration.
According to him, some Nigerians appeared not merely to want Adeboye to speak, but had already determined what they expected him to say.
“Some people are waiting eagerly for Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye to speak about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. But it appears that they are not merely waiting for him to speak; they already have a script they want him to follow,” he wrote.
Odesola said some of those calling for Adeboye to speak expected him to condemn Tinubu in strong terms, insult the President or make religious pronouncements against his administration.
He, however, said such expectations were inconsistent with the conduct expected of a responsible religious leader.
“But that is not Pastor Adeboye. And, more importantly, that is not how a responsible servant of God should operate,” he said.
Odesola noted that Adeboye had spent decades building a reputation for speaking from conviction, prayer and spiritual responsibility, arguing that the cleric should not be compelled to speak simply because members of the public demanded it.
“A man of God does not have to speak simply because people are demanding that he speak,” he said.
“There is a difference between speaking because the crowd is shouting and speaking because one has something meaningful to say.
“There is also a difference between political commentary and prophetic responsibility.”
According to Odesola, if Adeboye believed he had a message from God for the nation, he would speak at the appropriate time.
He added that the RCCG leader could also choose to pray, offer counsel or remain silent, depending on what he considered appropriate.
Odesola further argued that criticism of government did not necessarily have to be expressed through insults or anger.
He urged Christians and other members of the public not to diminish the calling of religious leaders because of their positions or expectations regarding political issues.
Adeboye has faced calls from some Nigerians to publicly comment on the policies of the Tinubu administration and the broader political and economic situation in the country.
