Years after he threatened to lead a one-million-man protest during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan over the country’s growing insecurity, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has now taken on a more advisory role — urging President Bola Tinubu to confront terrorism with courage and strategy.
In a video shared on the X handle of The Real Church Gist on Saturday, the revered cleric called on the Tinubu-led administration to take decisive action against terrorists and their backers, no matter how influential they may be.
“My next advice to our government, in case there is any of you who can get across to them, when giving orders to the Service Chiefs this time round, we should make it clear to them that they are not only to eliminate the terrorists — they should eliminate their sponsors, no matter how influential they may be,” he said.
Adeboye, who once vowed to mobilize Nigerians for mass protest if the government failed to tackle insecurity under Jonathan, now emphasizes dialogue, diplomacy, and wisdom as key tools for national survival.
“When I say my people, when I say our leaders should move fast, move diplomatically, they have to be and move wisely,” he added.
He warned that Nigeria must not rely on foreign powers for protection in times of crisis, stressing that no nation would defend Nigeria if attacked.
“We must take note of the fact that if America should attack us, China is not coming to defend us. Russia will not come to defend us. All the so-called world leaders will only talk — they will condemn what America has done in the strongest terms. That’s all they will do. Britain is not going to come and help us,” Adeboye cautioned.
The RCCG leader urged Nigerian authorities to act swiftly and decisively in the face of mounting insecurity, insisting that this is not the time for political rhetoric or sectarian divisions.
“This is not the time for joking. This is not the time for grammar. It’s not the time for semantics or arguments. And it’s not the time for saying that it’s not Christian law. Muslims are also involved. The point is that people are dying — innocent people are dying,” he lamented.
Adeboye’s remarks come amid renewed calls for the Federal Government to intensify efforts to end terrorism and banditry, which continue to claim lives and displace thousands across parts of the country.
His renewed tone reflects a shift from protest to persuasion — from the pulpit to policy — as he now seeks to guide the government toward what he describes as a “patriotic and wise” path to restoring peace and stability in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, international concern about Nigeria’s security situation persists. The United States, under former President Donald Trump, had redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for alleged violations of religious freedom — even hinting at possible military action against terrorist elements in the region.
However, Nigerian authorities continue to insist that such conclusions are based on faulty data and fail to reflect the reality on the ground.
