The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has dismissed reports claiming that he staged a protest against former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan during his administration.
The respected cleric described the reports as misleading, insisting that the event being circulated online was a prayer walk held in 2020, five years after Jonathan left office.
Adeboye explained that the activity was not organised as a political demonstration against any particular administration but was part of a collective Christian response to insecurity and persistent killings across Nigeria.
His clarification has renewed discussions about the importance of checking dates and context before sharing old photographs and videos as evidence of political activities.
1. Adeboye Says He Did Not Protest Against Jonathan
Adeboye rejected the claim that he carried a placard in protest against Jonathan while the former president was in power.
According to the cleric, the reports wrongly connected an event from 2020 to Jonathan’s administration, creating an impression that the RCCG leader had publicly protested against the former president.
He insisted that the demonstration being discussed took place after Jonathan had completed his tenure.
His clarification directly challenges the timeline presented in the viral reports.
2. The Prayer Walk Took Place in 2020
Adeboye said he carried the placard during a prayer walk in 2020, when Muhammadu Buhari was president.
He explained that the event took place five years after Jonathan left office in 2015.
“But I carried the placard in 2020. Jonathan ceased to be president in 2015. I carried the placard five years in the second term of Buhari,” Adeboye reportedly said.
The dates are central to his argument because they contradict the suggestion that the prayer walk was directed against Jonathan’s government.
3. The Event Followed a Collective Christian Directive
The RCCG leader also explained that the prayer walk was not an individual political initiative.
According to him, the chairman of the Christian leadership body involved had directed churches across the country to organise prayer walks around their respective locations.
Adeboye said he simply complied with the instruction.
“The chairman said all churches should do a prayer walk near their churches. That’s what I did,” he explained.
His account presents the event as part of a wider Christian response rather than a personal protest organised by the RCCG against a former president.
4. CAN Called for Action Against Insecurity
The February 2020 prayer walk was connected to concerns about insecurity, terrorism and killings across Nigeria.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had called for a period of fasting and prayer, culminating in a nationwide prayer exercise.
The initiative was intended to draw attention to the security challenges facing the country and encourage Christians to pray for peace and protection.
At the time, reports of attacks, kidnappings and killings in different parts of Nigeria had generated widespread concern among religious leaders and citizens.
The prayer walk therefore formed part of a broader religious response to the country’s security situation.
5. Millions of RCCG Members Participated
Reports surrounding the February 2, 2020 exercise described a large turnout of RCCG members, including participants who joined peaceful prayer walks in different locations.
In Lagos, Adeboye led members in the exercise, which was intended to demonstrate concern over the killings and insecurity affecting the country.
The gathering was a public religious activity, but Adeboye’s latest explanation makes clear that its purpose should not be confused with a demonstration against Jonathan.
The distinction matters because a photograph of a cleric holding a placard does not, by itself, establish the political target or purpose of an event.
6. Adeboye Accuses a Journalist of Twisting His Words
The cleric also criticised the journalist he blamed for misrepresenting his explanation.
Adeboye expressed frustration that the story had been circulated without what he considered proper verification of the date and context.
“But a journalist twisted it. I said, I did what I did in 2015. And everybody swallowed it,” he reportedly said.
His criticism focused on the responsibility of journalists and media organisations to confirm facts before publishing reports, particularly when those reports involve public figures and politically sensitive issues.
The controversy also highlights how a misleading caption or an incorrectly presented timeline can change the meaning of an otherwise genuine photograph or event.
7. The Controversy Raises Questions About Media Fact-Checking
The disagreement over Adeboye’s prayer walk is another example of how old events can resurface online and be presented in a different historical context.
Political claims involving former presidents, religious leaders and public demonstrations can attract strong reactions, especially when they are shared without the original date or explanation.
In this case, the dates are particularly important: Jonathan left office in 2015, while the prayer walk described by Adeboye took place in February 2020, during Buhari’s second term.
The cleric’s clarification does not mean that religious leaders cannot criticise governments or participate in public demonstrations. Rather, it means that the purpose and timing of a specific event should be established before drawing conclusions about whom it targeted.
For readers, the lesson is straightforward: viral claims should be checked against original statements, credible reports and the dates of the events being discussed.
Conclusion
Pastor Enoch Adeboye has denied reports that he staged a protest against former President Goodluck Jonathan, insisting that the placard-carrying event being discussed was part of a nationwide Christian prayer walk held in 2020.
He said the exercise followed a collective directive for churches to pray against insecurity and killings in Nigeria.
With Jonathan leaving office in 2015, Adeboye argues that the 2020 event could not have been a protest against Jonathan’s administration.
The controversy has once again placed the spotlight on media accuracy, political narratives and the need to verify viral reports before accepting them as fact.
