Adeboye Did Not Protest Against President Goodluck Jonathan’s Administration – RCCG

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has dismissed claims circulating on social media that its General Overseer, Enoch Adejare Adeboye, participated in or led a protest against the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

In a statement seen on the official X handle of RCCG Public Relations on Tuesday, the church described the claim as false, explaining that a photograph being shared online had been taken out of context and wrongly presented as evidence of a protest against Jonathan’s government.

According to the church, the image was taken during a peaceful nationwide walk organised in compliance with a directive from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) during the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

RCCG said churches across the country were instructed to embark on peaceful walks after church services to draw attention to the killing of Christians and to urge the government to take stronger measures to protect lives and property.

The church noted that the walk in Ebute Metta, Lagos, where Pastor Adeboye was photographed carrying a placard, formed part of the nationwide exercise and had no connection whatsoever with Jonathan’s administration.

“It was neither organized against President Goodluck Jonathan nor connected in any way to his administration,” the statement said.

RCCG expressed concern that photographs from the event, which received extensive media coverage at the time, were years later being recycled and presented in a misleading context.

The church also clarified that Pastor Adeboye’s message during the walk centred on the sanctity of human life and the need to protect all Nigerians regardless of religious background.

According to the statement, the cleric’s placard reflected the belief that every life matters to God and called for the protection of both Christians and Muslims.

Addressing criticisms that Pastor Adeboye had not spoken strongly enough on national issues, RCCG said it was unrealistic to expect the cleric to direct the President or the First Lady on matters of governance.

“Pastor Adeboye is a clergyman, not the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,” the church stated.

It, however, stressed that the 84-year-old cleric had not remained silent on the country’s challenges.

The statement recalled that during the November 2025 Holy Ghost Service, Pastor Adeboye publicly advised the President on the worsening security situation and the continued killing of innocent Nigerians by terrorists.

According to RCCG, the cleric warned that urgent action was required to prevent foreign powers from using terrorism as a basis for intervention in Nigeria.

He also urged the government to hold security chiefs accountable for tackling insecurity.

In his words, “When they eliminate the terrorists, ask them to eliminate their sponsors too.”

The church further emphasised that Pastor Adeboye’s role remains that of providing spiritual leadership, moral guidance and counsel within the limits of his office as a minister of the Gospel.

It reiterated that neither Pastor Adeboye nor RCCG is responsible for Nigeria’s current challenges, stressing that the church is not a political party and does not serve as the religious arm of any political organisation.