The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has come to the defence of Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, clarifying that her position as a pastor within the church predates her husband’s rise to the presidency by a full decade.
Addressing congregants at the church’s May Holy Ghost Service — themed “Excellent Counsel” — held at the vast Simawa auditorium in Ogun State, Adeboye pushed back against public scrutiny of Mrs Tinubu’s clerical role.
According to the cleric, the First Lady completed all required stages of RCCG’s spiritual training programme — including baptismal instruction, a workers’ training course, and the School of Disciples at the national headquarters — before being ordained as an assistant pastor roughly ten years ago, long before Bola Tinubu entered the presidential race.
Adeboye further noted that she has remained at the assistant pastor level because certain criteria for full ordination are yet to be met — and emphasised that she has not violated any of the offences that would warrant removal from pastoral office, though he stopped short of detailing what those offences are.
On the subject of marriage roles, he referenced scripture to argue that a wife’s pastoral standing does not translate to domestic authority over her husband.
Church Not a Political Instrument
Adeboye firmly rejected the perception that RCCG leans toward any particular political party, noting that the congregation routinely hosts elected officials from across the political spectrum — including governors affiliated with the PDP, Labour Party, APC, and APGA — all worshipping under the same roof.
He was equally clear that political figures are welcome to attend services as ordinary worshippers, but the pulpit will not be handed to them for speeches or campaign-related appearances. Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke was among those present at the service and worshipped without being invited to address the gathering, in line with this policy.
On National Christian Leadership
Distancing himself from any ambition to serve as the overall father figure of Nigerian Christianity, Adeboye maintained that such a role belongs to the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). He indicated that he operates under that authority and will only speak out or act on national matters when CAN takes a position — including any future calls for public protest, as was the case when he previously joined demonstrations at the CAN chairman’s directive.
