The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has defended President Bola Tinubu against criticisms over the country’s security challenges, saying the President has fulfilled his constitutional role by giving directives to the military.
Speaking during the US-Nigeria Faith Heroes Award Gala held in Washington, D.C., Adeboye said it would be unrealistic to expect the Commander-in-Chief to personally participate in military operations once he had issued the necessary orders.
According to him, a president’s responsibility is to provide leadership and strategic direction, while security agencies are expected to carry out the operations.
Drawing a comparison with the United States, Adeboye said American presidents also authorise military actions without personally taking part in combat.
Despite defending the President, the cleric acknowledged that insecurity has worsened and is no longer confined to northern Nigeria.
He lamented that terrorism and kidnapping have spread to the southern part of the country, noting that the situation has become increasingly alarming.
Adeboye revealed that he had personally discussed the security crisis with President Tinubu and the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, urging the President to issue firm directives to military commanders.
He said he advised the President to give security chiefs a 90-day deadline to eliminate terrorist threats or resign from their positions.
The respected cleric also stressed that tackling those financing terrorism was crucial to ending insecurity, arguing that many of the sponsors are influential individuals who continue to operate freely.
According to him, some of the financiers are businessmen and politicians, insisting that dismantling their support networks would significantly weaken terrorist groups.
Adeboye maintained that without confronting those providing weapons, funding and logistics to criminal groups, the security crisis would persist.
He also called on the United States and other international partners to strengthen cooperation with Nigeria in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
