Direct service chiefs to crush terrorists in 90 days or resign, Adeboye tells Tinubu

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has called on President Bola Tinubu to act decisively, wisely, and diplomatically to address mounting concerns over what he described as an alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria.

Speaking during the November Holy Ghost Service at the Redemption City campground, Adeboye said the Federal Government must approach the nation’s security crisis with balance and strategic foresight.

“If I am asked to make suggestions, I will say quietly to the governments to move wisely, diplomatically,” he said. “I have cousins. There were times in Nigeria when Christians and Muslims were living together. I have families that are Muslims till date. When I was little, I ate sari with them, and I still eat my breakfast, but the issue of religion started when politics came into religion.”

Adeboye revealed that he had privately offered counsel to past presidents on religious and security issues but noted that only the Commander-in-Chief has the authority to act.

“All the presidents who were around when this trouble started, whatever I discussed is top privacy. I have done my best behind the scene, but as I have always told you, you can only advise a Commander-in-Chief; you cannot command him. But I have tried. God is my witness.”

The cleric outlined the steps he would recommend if given another opportunity to advise the government.

“What should we do now? If I was asked to make suggestions, I will say quietly to our government: move fast, move diplomatically, move wisely. Find a way to convince the President of America to please delay his actions for about 100 days, and then come home and tell our security chiefs to get rid of these terrorists within 90 days or resign.”

He recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari once gave a similar directive that was not properly enforced.

“There was a President, Buhari, who issued such an order. He called the service chiefs together and said, ‘Get rid of these Boko Haram people or resign.’ He ran with that advice but he did not follow through because he gave the order as the Commander, but he did not follow up. The work was not done after three months, so I went to see him. I asked him, ‘Why did you not proceed with your threat?’ One thing came out of the meeting which will lead me to the advice.”

Adeboye further urged Tinubu to ensure that the war against insurgents also targets those financing and backing them.

“When giving orders to the service chiefs this time around, he should make it clear to them they are not only to eliminate the terrorists but also eliminate the sponsors, no matter how influential they may be.”

He warned that Nigeria must tread carefully in its international relations, stressing that no world power would come to its defense if conflict breaks out.

“When I say our leaders should move diplomatically, we must take note of the fact that if America should attack us, China is not coming to defend us. Likewise Russia and Britain. All the so-called world leaders, they will talk and condemn what America has done, but they won’t help us.”

Adeboye said the time for debate had passed, insisting that the moment demanded urgent and concrete action.

“This is not the time to joke. This is not the time for grammar, not time to argue, is it suicide or kidnap? This is not the time to say it’s not Christians alone, Muslims are also involved. Innocent people are dying.”

The pastor said he was nearly moved to speak publicly after hearing a recent security statement from President Tinubu, whom he referred to as his in-law.

“I almost spoke last month when I heard the speech of my in-law (Tinubu), particularly that section that spoke about security. I heard him saying, all is well now, that displaced people have returned to their villages. I almost said the one who wrote that speech does not like him. Somebody wrote it, but it was the President who read it. There are several people around Tinubu who are not telling him the truth. The following day we read that a traditional ruler was killed in Kwara or Kogi.”

He acknowledged that Tinubu’s administration inherited the nation’s deep-rooted insecurity but urged the government to focus on practical solutions.

“Our President inherited this problem. I am an applied mathematician; I am only interested in getting the problem solved.”

Reiterating his earlier point, Adeboye again appealed for diplomacy with the United States and accountability from Nigeria’s military leadership.
“Let the government use diplomatic methods to convince Trump to give us 100 days of grace to call our service chiefs to perform within three months or resign. Now, where do you come in?”

He ended on a note of faith, reminding his congregation that divine peace would eventually prevail.

“I shared with you, my children, that God said this will be a remarkable year, that the wind blowing last year will be more violent this year. Any time we have meetings like this, God picks the topic. By this time next week, we will be having the Holy Ghost service in Abuja. He gave us the theme, ‘Fear not,’ that months ago before Trump spoke. One way or the other, there will be peace again in Nigeria.”