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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

Obi defends Pastor Adeboye, warns against ethnic division

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Peter Obi urged Nigerian youths to resist ethnic and religious divisions, warning against manipulated narratives that undermine national unity.
  • He defended Pastor Enoch Adeboye against social media attacks, stating it's unfair to burden the cleric with responsibilities belonging to younger Nigerians.
  • Obi cautioned that politicians often exploit societal fault lines when they cannot compete on ideas or performance, urging youths to take responsibility for national change.

National Democratic Congress flagbearer Peter Obi has issued a strong warning to Nigerian youths, urging them to reject divisive ethnic and religious narratives that weaken national unity. He cautioned against being manipulated into promoting such sentiments, particularly in light of recent social media attacks targeting the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye.

Throughout history, whenever politicians find it difficult to compete on ideas, performance, character, or vision, some resort to exploiting the fault lines of ethnicity, religion, and identity. Their calculation is simple: a divided people are easier to manipulate than a united people.

— Peter ObiThe National Democratic Congress flagbearer explained how politicians exploit societal divisions.

Obi addressed the calls for Adeboye to speak out against the government over insecurity, noting a viral image purportedly showing the cleric protesting under a previous administration. The Redeemed Christian Church of God has since clarified the image's context, stating it was from a peaceful walk during President Muhammadu Buhari's tenure and unrelated to political protest.

Today, I see similar efforts emerging again, sometimes in more subtle and sophisticated ways. Narratives are planted, amplified, and circulated, often by individuals who genuinely believe they are defending a worthy cause, without recognising the broader agenda behind such campaigns.

— Peter ObiPeter Obi warned about the subtle and sophisticated ways divisive narratives are spread.

Reflecting on the 2023 general elections, Obi highlighted how public discourse can shift from governance issues to ethnic and identity-based sentiments. He observed that politicians struggling to compete on ideas, performance, or vision often resort to exploiting these divisions. "A divided people are easier to manipulate than a united people," Obi stated, warning that such narratives are sometimes amplified by individuals unaware of the broader agenda.

Let me state clearly that Pastor Enoch Adeboye remains one of the foremost fathers of faith in our nation. For decades, he has consistently preached the virtues of peace, prayer, love, reconciliation, and national unity. Even when faced with provocation, his response has always reflected humility, restraint, wisdom, and grace.

— Peter ObiPeter Obi defended Pastor Adeboye's character and consistent message of peace.

He specifically defended Pastor Adeboye, describing him as a respected religious leader who consistently advocates for peace, unity, and reconciliation. Obi argued that at 84 years old, it is unfair to place the burden of driving national change on the cleric, urging young and able-bodied Nigerians to embrace this responsibility themselves. He emphasized that Adeboye's decades of preaching have consistently reflected humility, restraint, wisdom, and grace, even when provoked.

At 84 years of age, it would be unfair for young and able-bodied Nigerians to transfer to him responsibilities that properly belong to them.

— Peter ObiPeter Obi argued against placing the burden of national change on the elderly cleric.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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