The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has strongly pushed back against what it describes as a growing trend of misinformation, misrepresentation and misleading commentaries about its General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, declaring that the church will no longer remain silent in the face of false narratives.
In a statement issued through its official public relations platform on X, the church said it was compelled to respond after years of what it described as deliberate distortions of Pastor Adeboye’s views and activities by some individuals, bloggers and media commentators.
“The lies have gone on long enough. It stops now,” the statement declared, insisting that neither Pastor Adeboye nor the RCCG should be defined by falsehoods repeatedly circulated as facts.
The church stressed that it has designated communication channels and authorised representatives responsible for speaking on its behalf, urging the public to verify information concerning Pastor Adeboye and the RCCG through its official public relations platform before accepting or sharing such claims.
According to the statement, any information not communicated, verified or endorsed through the church’s official channels should not be regarded as its position.
The RCCG also called on bloggers, media organisations and content creators to uphold the principles of responsible journalism by fact-checking reports before publication.
“The public deserves the truth, not speculation. The Church deserves fairness, not distortion. Pastor Adeboye deserves accuracy, not manufactured narratives,” the statement noted.
Addressing some recurring claims that have generated public debate in recent years, the church dismissed allegations that Pastor Adeboye campaigned for the current government, describing such assertions as false.
The church maintained that the respected cleric has consistently encouraged Nigerians, particularly church members, to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and participate in elections while allowing individuals the freedom to support candidates and political parties of their choice.
It emphasised that Pastor Adeboye has always maintained political neutrality, noting that members of the RCCG belong to different political parties and hold diverse political views.
The statement also refuted claims that Pastor Adeboye personally called off a planned protest. It explained that the cleric merely relayed a directive from the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) regarding adjustments to a nationwide three-day prayer programme, including plans for a centralised gathering and rally.
According to the church, the decision originated from the PFN and was communicated to all member churches across the country.
Responding to criticisms that Pastor Adeboye remains silent on national challenges, the RCCG insisted that the cleric has repeatedly spoken on issues affecting Nigeria, including insecurity, corruption, economic hardship, elections and governance.
However, it noted that his interventions often come in the form of moral guidance, prayers and counsel rather than direct partisan political engagement.
The church concluded by urging Nigerians to verify information before believing or sharing it, stressing that truth and accuracy remain essential in public discourse.
“Verify before you believe. Fact-check before you publish. Truth matters,” the statement can be included.
