General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E. A Adebayo, has urged Nigerians to register and vote in the forthcoming 2023 elections.
He said this while addressing his congregation on Sunday during the church’s thanksgiving service.
“As a Nigerian, you have a duty to register, to vote and make sure your vote will count. You have a duty to belong to any party of your choice; you can’t refuse to vote and then complain about the government,” he said.
Adeboye also stressed that he “has nothing to do with partisan politics” and does not care about what political party people belong to or want to vote for as long as they perform their civic duty.
Adeboye however, added that he does not know yet if there will be elections in 2023.
According to him, God has yet to speak to him about the elections unlike in 2019 when God revealed things to him before the elections.
“I have never told you this is the fellow you should vote for. I have never said this is the party you should belong to and I will never say it. Because in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, every party is represented here. APC, PDP, APGA, Labour and other parties that you don’t even know their names,” Adeboye told his members.
He further told his congregation to listen to him carefully and if they were going to quote him, they should do so correctly.
“I am talking to those of you who are my children. Do you want to know the truth? And nothing but the truth?” He asked.
“As of now, as I am standing before you, I still don’t know yet whether or not there would be an election next year. Don’t say that Pastor Adeboye said there would be no election next year; that’s not what I said. Adeboye does not know yet, put the word ‘yet’.”
Adeboye said he needed to make the clarifications because there have been several misleading articles about certain instructions that had been passed to all members of the church.
“Let me make it loud and clear and please, I want you to listen with anointed ears and anointed hearts. Pastor Adeboye is not and will never be a politician. I have never been and will never be. That’s not my calling. My assignment has nothing to do with partisan politics,” the cleric said.
His comments may not be unconnected to a recent report that the RCCG was set to create a Directorate of Politics and Governance in the church as part of efforts to properly position itself ahead of the election year.
Speaking further, Pastor Adeboye, explained why he believes he is yet to hear from God concerning the elections.
According to him, 2023 is still a long time away and there are many problems bedeviling the country that need to be addressed first such as insecurity and economic matters.
“I have a lot of things now occupying my mind for which you, my partners must join me in prayers. One of them is Kaduna. You can’t go to Kaduna by road or by air or by train”.
He also raised concerns that the country is gradually sliding towards bankruptcy.
“It is in the news that 80% of oil in Nigeria is stolen and taken out of the country. Who is stealing the oil?
“Who is buying the oil? Are you even sure that the people buying the oil have your interest? If these continue, we might be sliding to bankruptcy,” Adeboye said.