National Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi on Thursday, July 10, 2026, backed comments by the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, that President Bola Tinubu has made efforts to address Nigeria’s security challenges, while questioning whether those efforts have delivered enough results for citizens.
In an interview with journalist Chude Jideonwo published on YouTube, Obi said Adeboye’s assessment that Tinubu had “tried his best” was a fair reflection of the President’s efforts, but argued that leadership must ultimately be measured by outcomes.
Also read: Searching citizens’ phones without a warrant is unlawful, police warn officers
Obi said Nigerians should judge political leaders by their previous records and future plans when deciding who deserves their support.
“It’s for you to look at my past and look at what I’m saying now,” Obi said while responding to questions about his presidential ambition and the country’s political future.
Reacting specifically to Adeboye’s comments on Tinubu’s handling of insecurity, Obi described the cleric as a respected figure whose views should be considered seriously.
“Pastor Adeboye remains a very revered, respected religious father, whom I believe in his genuineness and goodness. And what he said was correct. He said he has tried his best. He’s trying his best. That’s it. It’s the correct answer,” Obi said.
The former Anambra State governor, however, added that the key issue was whether the level of effort had produced the results Nigerians needed.
“The question to ask is: Is his best good enough? Where we find ourselves today, that leads to the issue of capacity,” he said.
Obi argued that effective leadership requires more than intention, listing competence, capacity, compassion, commitment and character as qualities needed to address Nigeria’s challenges.
“President Tinubu is tired. He needs to go home and rest,” Obi said, while criticising what he described as the government’s inability to adequately tackle insecurity.
Adeboye had earlier defended Tinubu against accusations that the President was not doing enough to combat insecurity, saying the role of a commander-in-chief was to provide direction rather than personally lead military operations.
“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,” Adeboye said during the US-Nigeria Faith Heroes Award Gala organised by the Save Nigeria Group in Washington, D.C., on June 23.
The cleric, however, expressed concern over the spread of terrorism and kidnapping across parts of Nigeria. He said he advised the President to give military commanders a 90-day deadline to improve the security situation or step aside.
Adeboye also called for stronger action against alleged sponsors of terrorism, saying authorities needed to identify and prosecute those responsible for funding insecurity.
Also read: Searching citizens’ phones without a warrant is unlawful, police warn officers
Obi’s comments come as political activities continue to intensify ahead of the 2027 general election, with opposition figures increasingly debating the performance of the Tinubu administration and presenting alternative visions for the country.
Oreoluwa is an accountant and a brand writer with a flair for journalism.
