General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has stirred intense debate as he announced plans for national prayers over Nigeria’s current economic hardship — a move seen by critics as a stark contrast to his active participation in the 2012 protests against fuel subsidy removal under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
In 2012, Adeboye, along with other religious leaders and civil society groups, led public demonstrations condemning Jonathan’s subsidy removal policy, describing it as harsh and insensitive to the sufferings of ordinary Nigerians. The protests, which drew massive crowds, were seen as a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s civil resistance to economic reforms deemed anti-people.
Fast forward to 2025, following President Bola Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidy which contributed to the massive hardship in thecountry, Adeboye has so far called for nationwide prayers rather than protests.
This has triggered accusations of hypocrisy and, in some quarters, tribal bias, given that Tinubu, like Adeboye, hails from the Yoruba ethnic group, while Jonathan, who faced mass protests, is Ijaw.
“The silence of some influential clerics who once marched on the streets is deafening. Is it because the current president is one of theirs?” a social commentator posted on social media, reflecting the sentiment of many Nigerians who feel that the response to hardship today appears more muted compared to 2012.
Defenders of Pastor Adeboye argue that the current crisis calls for spiritual intervention rather than confrontation, noting that the challenges facing Nigeria today are more complex and require divine guidance alongside government reforms.
Meanwhile, Adeboye’s call for sustained prayers is being mobilized across RCCG parishes nationwide, with special prayer sessions slated in coming weeks.
As Nigerians continue to grapple with rising cost of living, the debate over the role of religious leaders in times of national hardship — and the influence of ethnicity in their response — remains heated.
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