The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has defended President Bola Tinubu against public criticism over Nigeria’s worsening security challenges, insisting that the President has fully discharged his duties as commander-in-chief.
Speaking at the US-Nigeria Faith Heroes Award Gala in Washington, organized by the Save Nigeria Group, Adeboye declared that it is unfair for citizens to blame the President for lingering security failures once operational orders have been issued from the presidency.
“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,” Adboye said.
The prominent cleric compared Tinubu’s role to that of a United States president, using Donald Trump as a point of reference to illustrate executive governance.
He argued that a leader’s job is to command, while the actual execution of battlefield strategy rests entirely on military subordinates.
While exonerating the President from direct blame, Adeboye admitted that the security situation has severely deteriorated, noting that the wave of terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping previously concentrated in northern Nigeria has now spread directly into southern territories.
Adeboye further revealed that he had held private discussions with both President Tinubu and the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
During the meeting, he advised the President to take a harder line with security chiefs by issuing a strict 90-day ultimatum to eliminate terrorism or face forced resignation.
Adeboye further emphasized that ending the menace permanently requires cutting off its financial lifelines, urging the administration to aggressively prosecute the wealthy businessmen and politicians funding the networks.