LAGOS, Nigeria — At a time when myriad challenges beset Nigeria, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, has called for peace and unity, asserting that the nation does not need further conflict amid the existing internal struggles.
Speaking at the 71st Annual Convention of RCCG, themed ‘Beyond Expectations’, held at the Redemption Camp along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Friday, August 11, 2023, Adeboye expressed his deep concern over the nation’s ongoing internal battles, including but not limited to kidnappings, terrorism, and clashes between farmers and herdsmen.
“We are still fighting wars against hunger, we are fighting some serious wars, and sure we don’t want more wars,” Adeboye told the gathering. He added, “We want to win the ones we are fighting and we don’t want fresh ones; whether within or without our borders.”
Reflecting on Nigeria’s turbulent past, Pastor Adeboye recounted his personal experience living near the battlefront during the Nigerian Civil War from 1967 to 1970.
The horrors he witnessed at that time left an indelible mark, shaping his perspective on the devastating impacts of war.
“I’m a small boy, but I was at the battlefront during the civil war; not as a soldier but I lived near the battlefront, and what I saw, if anybody asks me to choose between war and peace, I will choose peace,” Adeboye declared.
The preacher passionately described the current state of insecurity in Nigeria, highlighting the diverse range of challenges that the nation faces.
“We are still fighting wars against kidnappers, we are fighting wars against terrorists. There are still places in Nigeria today that when people go to bed, they are not sure they would not be killed before tomorrow morning,” he lamented.
Addressing the contentious issue of farmers and herdsmen, Adeboye said, “We are still fighting wars against some people who feel that if you are a farmer and you plant, then what you have planted is food for their cows and if their cows come to eat your harvest and you complain, they kill you.”
Pastor Adeboye’s plea underscores a deep desire for peace and reconciliation in a country grappling with numerous challenges.
His call serves as a reminder of the urgent need for unity and dialogue as Nigeria strives for a better future.
