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By Lawrence Agbo
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has said President Bola Tinubu should not be singled out for Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, arguing that the President has discharged his constitutional responsibility by directing the country’s security agencies to confront criminal elements.
Addressing participants at the US-Nigeria Faith Heroes Award Gala organised by the Save Nigeria Group in Washington, Adeboye said it was unfair to expect the Commander-in-Chief to personally lead military operations once he had issued operational directives.
According to the respected cleric, responsibility for executing security operations rests with the armed forces and other security agencies, not the President.
“I need to make this one clear: 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.
To reinforce his argument, Adeboye cited the example of US President Donald Trump, noting that world leaders issue military orders while professional security personnel carry them out.
“When my friend Trump gives instructions to go and bomb anywhere, he doesn’t leave the White House. He has done his bit. ‘I hereby command, bomb Iran’, and then he goes to his bedroom and sleeps. The rest is left to the supporters.”
While defending Tinubu, the RCCG General Overseer admitted that insecurity has become more severe, lamenting that terrorism and kidnapping have spread beyond northern Nigeria into parts of the South.
He said the deteriorating security situation has left many Nigerians frustrated, especially as those believed to be financing terrorist activities continue to operate without facing justice.
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“Things have gone far, far worse than before the bomb came,” he said, referring to the US bombing of Islamist terrorists last December.
“Far, far worse… so bad that they are asking: ‘Where is your God?’ That is how bad it is. The terrorism, kidnapping, and so on that were in the north are now even at my doorstep. They have come all the way down to the south. And, of course, the sponsors — they are all known, and they are still moving about freely.”
Adeboye disclosed that he had privately discussed the issue with both President Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, during which he recommended decisive action against the country’s security leadership.
According to him, he advised the President to give the heads of the Army, Navy and Air Force a 90-day deadline to eliminate terrorism or vacate their positions.
“I told him to instruct the service chiefs that they have 90 days to end this menace or resign. At the same time, those sponsoring these criminals must also be pursued,” he stated.
The cleric stressed that lasting success against terrorism would only be achieved by dismantling the financial and logistical networks sustaining criminal groups.
He alleged that many of the sponsors are powerful figures, including politicians and business leaders, who provide funding, weapons and other forms of support to violent groups.
“If those supplying arms, ammunition and financial support are left untouched, the insecurity will persist,” he warned.
Adeboye also appealed for stronger international cooperation, urging the United States and other friendly nations to support Nigeria’s efforts to defeat terrorism and restore lasting peace.
