Enoch Adeboye
Enoch Adeboye, general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has asked President Bola Tinubu to engage US President Donald Trump diplomatically over alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
Trump had asked the US Department of Defence to prepare for “possible action” in Nigeria, while warning the Nigerian government to act swiftly to end the “killing of Christians” in the country.
The US president had also called Nigeria a “disgraced country”.
However, the Nigerian government has repeatedly pushed back on claims of a Christian genocide in the country.
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Speaking at the November Holy Ghost Service in Redemption City on Friday, Adeboye said Tinubu should “move fast and wisely” and find a way to convince Trump “to delay his actions for about 100 days”.
The pastor also asked the federal government to identify and expose the sponsors of terrorism and insurgency across the country, regardless of their influence.
“In my usual quiet way, I have related with all the presidents who were around when this trouble started,” Adeboye said.
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“Whatever I discussed with them privately, I did my best behind the scenes. But you can only advise the Commander-in-Chief — you can’t command him.
“If I were asked to make suggestions, I would say to our government: move fast, move diplomatically, move wisely.
“Find a way to convince the president of America to delay his actions for about 100 days.
“Then come home and tell our security chiefs to get rid of these terrorists within 90 days or resign.”
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Adeboye also cautioned that no world power would defend Nigeria in the face of external aggression.
On November 4, China warned against interference in Nigeria’s affairs over Trump’s threat.
“When I say our leaders should move fast, diplomatically, and wisely, it’s because if America attacks us, China, Russia, and other world powers will condemn it strongly but that’s all they’ll do. Britain won’t come to help us. No foreign power will,” Adeboye added.
“This is not the time for jokes, grammar, or arguments. It’s not about Christians or Muslims — innocent people are dying.”
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‘YOUR SPEECH WRITERS DON’T LIKE YOU’
Speaking further, Adeboye criticised a section of Tinubu’s Independence Day speech.
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The president in his speech said “peace has returned to hundreds of our liberated communities in north-west and north-east, and thousands of our people have returned safely to their homes”.
The RCCG pastor said he almost reacted publicly last month after hearing Tinubu’s remarks on displaced persons returning home.
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“I almost spoke last month when I heard the speech of my in-law (Tinubu), particularly that section that spoke about security,” he said.
“I heard him saying all is well now, that displaced people have returned to their villages.
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“I almost said the one who wrote that speech does not like him. Somebody wrote it, but it was the president who read it.
“The question is: Didn’t he see the speech before he read it? My conclusion will be that several people around my beloved in-law are not telling him the truth.
“The following day, we read that a traditional ruler was killed in Kwara or Kogi.”
The cleric said Tinubu inherited a difficult security situation but must now focus on finding lasting solutions.
“Our president inherited this problem. I am an applied mathematician; I am only interested in getting the problem solved,” he said.
He recalled that Nigeria once enjoyed peaceful co-existence between Christians and Muslims before politics brought division.
