Pastor Enoch

Adeboye The Pastor Enoch Adeboye-led Redeemed Christian Church of God has created the Office of Directorate of Politics and Governance to engage members going to be associated with politics and “mobilise assistance for them when required”, The PUNCH reports.

In a memo resolved to all regions, provinces, zones and other levels of the church, the mission stated the directorate was developed for political education of its members.

The directorate, it was discovered, would also prod members of the church to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the 2023 basic elections.

The memo dated February 28, 2022, and entitled, ‘Office of Directorate of Politics and Governance’ has the recommendation number: RCCG/AGO/ADM/ AA/MEMO/20/ 01/2022.

It was signed by the Assistant General Overseer in charge of Administration and Personnel, Pastor John Odesola.

The memo partially checked out, “We compose to officially alert you that the objective authority has developed the Office of Directorate of Politics and Governance in the RCCG. Even more to this, Pastor Timothy Olaniyan (PICP Lagos Province 12) has actually been designated to lead the Office.

“You are kindly requested to select with immediate result a Provincial Officer for your province and also guarantee that the exact same is done at all levels of the church– parish, zone and area. The essence of this directorate is to assist coordinate the engagement of our individuals who are willing to be involved in politics in addition to set in motion assistance for them when required.”

RCCG, for that reason, asked that its parishes send the information of its nominated organizers for the office to Odesola within 2 weeks of invoice of the letter.

When contacted by The PUNCH on Thursday, RCCG Head of Media and Public Relations, Pastor Olaitan Olubiyi, said the directorate is to sensitise members of the church for active political involvement.

He said, “One thing I understand is that we have a directorate on politics and governance to galvanise viewpoint and views to talk about problems as they take place, not only in Nigeria however internationally, due to the fact that as Christians we can not afford to act ignorantly. It is to work as a form of sensitisation (for those interested in politics) and to mobilise our individuals to sign up and play their own functions, gather PVCs. Those who are interested, let them join the political celebration they choose.”

Olubiyi further stressed that while the church supports active political involvement by its members, it does not have a preferred political party. “As far as the Redeemed Christian Church of God is concerned, we do not have any favourite celebration,” the official added.

Perhaps the biggest church in Nigeria with parishes in over 190 nations of the world, RCCG has popular members and pastors in governance consisting of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN); spouse of All Progressives Congress leader, Remi Tinubu; amongst others.

Bola Tinubu has declared interest to contest the highest political seat in the land, Osinbajo has yet to formally state an ambition. However, his fans have been advising him to prosper his principal, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), come May 29, 2023.

With about a year to the next general elections in Nigeria, the political environment is ending up being charged as political gladiators have started permutations on who to advance as the presidential flagbearers of the 2 primary celebrations– the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, even as presidential primaries are expected to hold anytime soon.

Serial defections have likewise happened in the last couple of months as part of posturing for who will occupy the much-coveted seat in Aso Rock simply as the argument for zoning in between the Southern and Northern areas has actually also controlled public discourse.

The 17 southern governors at numerous times had actually all required that the next President must come from the region after the eight-year tenure of Buhari who is from Katsina State in North-West Nigeria.

ToriNG