The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has accused journalists of misleading Nigerians through deliberate distortions of his statements and past activities. He made these allegations during the church's November Thanksgiving Service on Sunday. Adeboye denied leading a protest against former President Goodluck Jonathan, saying a widely circulated photograph of him carrying a placard was taken during a Christian prayer walk in 2020.
Adeboye, 84, explained that the photograph in question was taken during a prayer walk organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). He said CAN had directed churches to organise prayer walks around their locations, and he participated in one such event in Ebutemeta. The cleric expressed concern that Nigerians accepted the claims without investigating the circumstances surrounding the photograph.
The RCCG leader recalled his undergraduate days at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where he took courses in the Department of Journalism. He said students were taught the principles of investigative journalism and the importance of verifying information before publication. Adeboye emphasised that journalists should investigate the circumstances surrounding a story rather than rely on appearances or unverified claims.
Adeboye also faulted media reports on his comments concerning the abduction of schoolchildren in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. He insisted that he never claimed nothing was being done to secure their release. The cleric accused journalists of selectively reporting his remarks on President Bola Tinubu's response to insecurity and US President Donald Trump's military directive.
The cleric's comments came amid allegations that his perceived support for Tinubu and his administration was influenced by their shared Yoruba heritage. Some critics have also attributed the alleged closeness between the cleric and the president to the fact that the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, is an ordained assistant pastor in the RCCG. She was ordained in August 2018 during the church's 66th Annual Convention.
Adeboye said a recent publication had portrayed him as a wicked man by recalling a photograph of him dressed in white and green while holding a placard. He acknowledged carrying the placard but rejected the suggestion that he had participated in a political protest against Jonathan. The cleric noted that Jonathan left office in 2015, while the photograph was taken in 2020, during the second term of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The RCCG General Overseer urged journalists to be more diligent in their reportage, saying that twisting facts can have serious consequences. He did not provide specific examples of misleading reports but emphasised the need for accurate and balanced reporting. Adeboye's remarks have sparked a renewed debate about the role of journalists in reporting on public figures and events.
Key points
- Pastor Enoch Adeboye denies leading a protest against former President Goodluck Jonathan.
- Adeboye faults media reports on his comments concerning the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo State.
- The cleric urges journalists to be more diligent in their reportage to avoid twisting facts.
