Pastor Adeboye to Tinubu: Tell Those Service Chiefs to Wipe Out Terrorists in 90 Days—or They Resign!
By: Abudu Olalekan
Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the big boss of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, not just preaching fire and brimstone but dropping some real talk on Nigeria’s mess. He’s got President Bola Tinubu in his sights—urging him to act fast, smart, and smooth on this alleged Christian genocide thing. No time for games. Security’s crumbling, and Adeboye’s like, let’s fix it wisely.
He starts off casual, reminiscing. “If I am asked to make suggestions, I will say quietly to the governments to move wisely, diplomatically,” he tells the congregation. See, Adeboye’s got history here. Grew up with Muslim cousins, shared meals—sari, even. Religion wasn’t the divider back then. But politics? That’s what poisoned the well. “I have cousins. There were times in Nigeria when Christians and Muslims were living together. I have families that are Muslims till date. When I was little, I ate sari with them, and I still eat my breakfast, but the issue of religion started when politics came into religion.” Short and sweet: Times changed. Badly.
Adeboye’s no stranger to advising presidents. He’s whispered in ears behind closed doors—all those who were in power when this terror nightmare kicked off. “All the presidents who were around when this trouble started, whatever I discussed is top privacy,” he says. Tried his best, God as witness. But hey, you can only advise a Commander-in-Chief; can’t boss him around. Now, with Tinubu, he’s laying it out plain. If he got the chance again? “Move fast, move diplomatically, move wisely. Find a way to convince the President of America to please delay his actions for about 100 days, and then come home and tell our security chiefs to get rid of these terrorists within 90 days or resign.”
Boom. That’s the punch. He remembers Buhari doing something similar—calling service chiefs, ordering them to crush Boko Haram or quit. But follow-through? Nah. “He ran with that advice but he did not follow through because he gave the order as the Commander, but he did not follow up,” Adeboye recalls. Went to see him after three months, asked why no action. Something clicked from that chat, leading to this new advice. This time, make it count. Don’t just target the foot soldiers; go after the big fish. “When giving orders to the service chiefs this time around, he should make it clear to them they are not only to eliminate the terrorists but also eliminate the sponsors, no matter how influential they may be.”
And diplomacy? Crucial. Adeboye warns, if America comes knocking—think Trump and his threats—no one’s riding to our rescue. Not China, Russia, Britain. They’ll condemn, sure, but help? Forget it. “When I say our leaders should move diplomatically, we must take note of the fact that if America should attack us, China is not coming to defend us. Likewise Russia and Britain.” Harsh truth. Nigeria’s on its own.
He’s fired up, no doubt. This ain’t time for debates or excuses. “This is not the time to joke. This is not the time for grammar, not time to argue, is it suicide or kidnap? This is not the time to say it’s not Christians alone, Muslims are also involved. Innocent people are dying.” Almost went public last month after Tinubu’s speech—his “in-law,” as Adeboye calls him. That part about security being all good, folks back in villages? Made him cringe. “I almost spoke last month when I heard the speech of my in-law (Tinubu), particularly that section that spoke about security. I heard him saying, all is well now, that displaced people have returned to their villages. I almost said the one who wrote that speech does not like him.” Next day, news of a traditional ruler killed in Kwara or Kogi. See? People around Tinubu aren’t telling truths.
Tinubu inherited this chaos, Adeboye admits. As an applied mathematician, he’s all about solutions, not blame. “Our President inherited this problem. I am an applied mathematician; I am only interested in getting the problem solved.” So, diplomacy with Trump for 100 days grace. Then, service chiefs get 90 to perform—or pack up. “Let the government use diplomatic methods to convince Trump to give us 100 days of grace to call our service chiefs to perform within three months or resign.”
But he ends on hope. God’s promised a remarkable year, even if winds are fiercer. Next Holy Ghost service in Abuja? Theme’s “Fear not,” picked months before Trump’s noise. “One way or the other, there will be peace again in Nigeria.” It’s a call to action wrapped in faith. Adeboye’s not just talking; he’s pushing for real moves. Will Tinubu listen? That’s the question hanging in the air. For now, the crowd at Redemption City probably left inspired—and a bit worried. Nigeria needs that reload, fast.
