Apostle Johnson Suleman has defended the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Enoch Adeboye, amid renewed criticism over his past involvement in a nationwide prayer walk, while also commenting on Nigeria’s worsening socio-political conditions.
Suleman clarifies Adeboye’s role in PFN directive
In a viral video, Suleman dismissed claims that Adeboye participated in a political protest during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan or under President Bola Tinubu.
He insisted the event in question was not a protest but a religious assignment organised by the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN).
“There are some people who are attacking Daddy G.O that he protested under Jonathan, he’s not protesting under Tinubu,” he said.
‘It was a prayer walk, not a protest’
Suleman explained that church leaders were acting on a collective directive from the PFN, stressing that the exercise was purely spiritual in nature.
“It was PFN that issued that all preachers, all pastors should go for a prayer walk… it was not protest, he said we should go for a prayer walk,” he added.
He noted that Adeboye acted within established church structures and was not acting independently.
“He’s under the PFN… he took his placard and said ‘All lives matter’ and went around and went for that prayer walk,” Suleman said.
Response to criticism of church leadership
Addressing criticisms that Adeboye should have taken a more active protest role, Suleman questioned such expectations, particularly given the cleric’s age.
“You said a man of 84 years should come and protest. Something is wrong with your head,” he stated.
On speaking out and accountability
Suleman also responded to suggestions that senior religious leaders are silent on national issues, insisting that their actions are often misunderstood.
“If he is in support, why has he not called me? If he’s in support, why has he not called me to talk?” he said.
He further emphasized his own track record of speaking on political matters across different administrations.
Comments on Nigeria’s situation
The cleric used the opportunity to criticise Nigeria’s worsening economic and governance challenges, describing the situation as deeply concerning.
“It has never been this bad… in those days we would struggle for food, now we are seeing our life,” he said.
He also criticised the current state of governance, adding, “This government… it’s a deaf and dumb government. They are deaf and dumb.”
Call for focus on systems, not individuals
Suleman concluded by urging Nigerians to focus less on blaming individuals and more on addressing systemic governance failures, which he believes are at the root of the country’s challenges.
