RCCG Continental Overseer for Continent 3, Pastor Joseph Odesola, on Monday, 17 August 2026, urged Nigerians to stop pressuring Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, to publicly attack President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the country’s political and economic challenges.
Odesola made the appeal in an article published by Impact Nigeria and subsequently shared on his X page, arguing that Adeboye should not be compelled to make political statements simply because sections of the public expect him to do so.
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He said some Nigerians appeared to be waiting for Adeboye to comment on Tinubu’s administration, but were doing so with a predetermined expectation of what the respected cleric should 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,” Odesola wrote.
The RCCG leader said religious figures should retain the freedom to decide when and how they address sensitive national matters.
“A man of God does not have to speak simply because people are demanding that he speak,” he said.
Odesola drew a distinction between political commentary and what he described as prophetic responsibility, warning against turning religious leaders into instruments of political campaigns.
He argued that the church should be able to hold government accountable without becoming an opposition platform.
“A genuine servant of God should not become the mouthpiece of any political camp,” he said.
The comments come amid continuing public debate over the role of prominent religious leaders in Nigeria’s political affairs, particularly as the country moves towards the 2027 general elections.
Adeboye has historically commented on issues affecting Nigeria, including governance, corruption, insecurity and the economy, although his interventions have not always taken the form of direct partisan attacks.
Odesola said criticism of government could be delivered without insults or political hostility.
“Truth does not become more powerful because it is delivered with insults. A curse does not become a prophecy simply because it is pronounced from a pulpit,” he said.
He acknowledged that Nigerians were facing serious challenges, including poverty, insecurity, unemployment and rising living costs, and said religious leaders had an important role to play in addressing matters of national concern.
However, he maintained that such interventions should come from conviction rather than public pressure.
“Nigeria needs voices that can tell the government the truth without hatred. We need voices that can challenge opposition politicians without fear,” Odesola said.
He encouraged Adeboye to continue praying and discerning before making any major public intervention.
“Let Pastor Adeboye pray. Let him listen. Let him discern. And when he has something he believes God has instructed him to say, let him say it with the courage of conviction,” he added.
The overseer ultimately urged Nigerians to allow the RCCG leader to determine his own message rather than attempting to dictate it.
“Don’t write his script for him,” Odesola said, stressing that Adeboye would speak when he believed it was appropriate.
His intervention provides a notable perspective on the growing expectations placed on influential religious figures to take explicit positions on Nigeria’s political leadership, particularly as political parties and their supporters begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
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For Odesola, however, the credibility of such a voice depends partly on its independence, timing and willingness to speak from conviction rather than respond to political pressure.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
