The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has addressed a controversy surrounding a photograph of him carrying a placard. The photo, which has been circulating online, was reportedly taken during a prayer walk against insecurity in 2020. Adeboye clarified that the procession was not a protest against former President Goodluck Jonathan, as some had claimed.
According to Adeboye, the photograph was taken five years after Jonathan left office, during the second term of President Muhammadu Buhari. The prayer walk was organised as part of a three-day fasting and prayer programme declared by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). The exercise aimed to seek divine intervention over the country’s security challenges.
The photograph shows Adeboye holding a placard bearing the inscription, “All Souls Are Precious to God”. It was taken during the prayer walk in Lagos, which began at the RCCG national headquarters in Ebute Meta, moved towards Atan Cemetery in Yaba, and returned to the church. Adeboye explained that the CAN chairman had directed churches to organise prayer walks around their premises.
Adeboye expressed concern that the report was accepted and circulated without anyone checking the facts. He recalled being initially amused by the allegation but became concerned about the lack of fact-checking. The cleric said he had no reason to deny carrying the placard but rejected the political interpretation attached to the photograph.
Adeboye criticised the journalist responsible for the report, arguing that the circumstances surrounding the photograph should have been established before publication. He drew on his exposure to journalism studies in the 1960s, urging practitioners to investigate stories rather than rely on appearances.
The RCCG leader addressed members of the creative industry, expressing disappointment that the report had gained attention without anyone verifying the facts. He urged them to be more diligent in their reporting, saying that “things don’t appear as they may seem”. Adeboye’s comments were made during the church’s November Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, November 1.
Adeboye’s clarification aims to set the record straight on the photograph, which had sparked widespread debate. The incident highlights the importance of fact-checking and investigative journalism in reporting accurate and balanced stories. The cleric’s remarks also underscore the need for responsible reporting, particularly in the creative industry.
Key points
- Pastor Enoch Adeboye clarifies that a 2020 photo of him carrying a placard was during a prayer walk against insecurity.
- The prayer walk was organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to seek divine intervention over Nigeria’s security challenges.
- Adeboye criticises journalists for not verifying facts before publishing the story.
