The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has defended President Bola Tinubu against criticism over the country's worsening insecurity, saying the president has fulfilled his constitutional role by directing the nation's security agencies.
Speaking at the U.S.-Nigeria Faith Heroes Award Gala organised by the Save Nigeria Group in Washington, D.C., on June 23, Adeboye said it was unreasonable to expect the president to personally lead military operations against terrorists.
"I need to make this one clear: I don't support those who are accusing the president of not doing enough. When the commander-in-chief has given instructions to his subordinates, he has done his bit. You don't expect him to go and put on khaki and fight," Adeboye said.
The cleric compared Tinubu's role to that of U.S. President Donald Trump, arguing that commanders-in-chief are responsible for issuing orders rather than participating directly in combat.
"When my friend Trump gives instructions to go and bomb anywhere, he doesn't leave the White House. He has done his bit. 'I hereby command, bomb Iran,' and then he goes to his bedroom and sleeps. The rest is left to the supporters."
Despite defending the president, Adeboye acknowledged that insecurity has worsened across the country, noting that terrorism and kidnapping, once concentrated in northern Nigeria, have spread to the South.
"The terrorism, kidnapping, and so on that were in the north are now even at my doorstep. They have come all the way down to the south. The sponsors are all known, and they are still moving about freely," he said.
Adeboye disclosed that he had raised the issue directly with President Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, urging the president to give military commanders a strict deadline to end the violence.
"I told him to tell all the military people: 'You have 90 days. Wipe out this rubbish or resign.' Then take care of the supporters and the sponsors."
He argued that those financing and supplying terrorist groups posed a greater threat than the attackers themselves.
"Some of them are businessmen. Some of them are politicians. Go after them. If you do not deal with those who are supplying these people with arms and ammunition, the problem will continue."
Adeboye also called for stronger international cooperation in Nigeria's fight against terrorism, urging the United States and other countries to support efforts aimed at dismantling the financial networks sustaining violent groups.
According to the RCCG leader, defeating insurgency requires targeting those who fund and equip terrorists, not only those carrying out the attacks.
