Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi has urged young Nigerians to resist attempts to weaponise religion and ethnicity in national discourse, while also defending the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, against expectations that he should lead efforts to fix Nigeria at his age.
In a statement on his X handle on Thursday, Obi said it would be unfair to expect the 84-year-old cleric to shoulder responsibilities that belong to younger Nigerians.
He stressed that the task of rebuilding the country rests primarily on the youth, who must take responsibility for driving reform and national development.
Obi also warned against what he described as deliberate attempts by some political actors to inflame ethnic and religious tensions for political gain.
He said recent online narratives were being used to shift attention away from governance issues and distort public debate.
He argued that many Nigerians were being drawn into divisive conversations without recognising the underlying intent, which he said was to weaken national unity and distract from pressing national challenges.
The former Anambra State governor urged young people to verify information, reject manipulation, and avoid being used to spread hatred or division, insisting that Nigeria’s progress depends on unity and shared purpose.
The comments come amid renewed online debate involving Adeboye, which the RCCG has previously dismissed as misleading.
The church clarified that a widely circulated image was linked to a past peace walk organised under the Christian Association of Nigeria.
Public figures, including filmmaker Mike Bamiloye, have also defended the cleric, arguing that expectations for him to lead street protests against government failures are unrealistic.
Meanwhile, Adeboye has recently called on security agencies to urgently tackle rising insecurity across the country, reflecting growing public concern over attacks and kidnappings in several states.
