3rd May, 2022
Reno Omokri has urged Pastor Enoch Adeboye to call the political arms of the Redeemed Christian Church of God to order.
Omokri made the call after Vanguard reported that the Head of Politics and Governance of RCCG, Pastor Timothy Olaniyan openly campaigned for Yemi Osinbajo over the weekend.
Olaniyan was quoted to have referred to Osinbajo as a man of God capable of changing the narrative of governance in Nigeria.
Omokri, however, warned that things will fall apart if such an open campaign for Osinbajo continues.
Omokri, who is also a pastor, wrote;
“It is very dangerous for the Redeemed Christian Church of God to politically promote Osinbajo. Churches are meant to promote Christ. If churches and mosques start promoting candidates, then they are no longer religious organisations and should start paying tax!
“It is alright for the candidates to visit the church and Pastor Adeboye for prayers and his blessings. But when the Redeemed Christian Church of God sets up a politics directorate, and the head of that unit starts openly campaigning for Osinbajo, in his official capacity then things are falling apart!
“How would Pastor Adeboye and members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God feel if the Sarkin Musulumi, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar, asks Muslims to queue up behind Bola Tinubu because he is a Muslim? GO Adeboye should call RCCG’s political directorate to order before they start what they can’t finish!”
RCCG had in March 2022 set up a department on politics and governance ahead of the 2023 General elections.
The church, with millions of members and over 32,000 branches across the country, said the Office of Directorate of Politics and Governance” will help to muster support for members with political ambitions.
The church also directed its branches to appoint a provincial officer across its levels for this new department.
“You are kindly requested to appoint with immediate effect a Provincial officer for your Province and also ensure that the same is done at all levels of the Church- Zone, Area and Parish. The essence of this Directorate is to help coordinate the engagement of our people who are willing to be involved in politics as well as mobilize support for them when required.
“Kindly send to the office the undersigned details of your Regional and Provinces Coordinators within the next two weeks of receiving this letter,” the church said in a memo dated February 28, 2022.
The memo was signed by the CO/AGO on Administration and Personnel, J.F Odesola.
A member of the church, Timothy Olaniyan, was appointed to lead the office.
However, some members of the public, mostly social media users have attributed the move to the presidential ambition of Nigeria’s Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo.