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By Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has said he does not know whether there will be an election in 2023.
Adeboye stated this at the monthly thanksgiving service of the church, on Sunday.
The 80-year-old cleric said God spoke to him about the 2019 elections more than a year to the election but the case is not the same with the 2023 election.
He added that God might still speak to him about the 2023 general elections but He has not spoken to him yet.
He said: I’m called to be a pastor. That’s why you don’t see me carry a big title. He (God) said it very clearly that I should just be a pastor.
“I ‘ve said it again and again. I’m not even a prophet. I only hear from Him once in a while. I am to pray for you, nations and Nigeria.
“My calling is not politics, don’t distract me. I’ ve never told any RCCG member this is the party you should belong to. I will never say it. Why? Every party is heavily represented in RCCG. The only reason I’ve never voted is that if I vote for anyone, I will be unjust to the rest of my children. I am the father of all and I leave it that way. I am saying it loud and clear as Nigerians you have a duty to your country that you register, you vote and ensure your vote counts. You have a duty to belong to any party of your choice at the very grassroots.
“You can’t sit there, refuse to bite and be complaining about the government. They chose leaders for you because you refuse to do anything. You must register, vote and ensure your vote counts. You must make sure that there is no more rigging in Nigeria. I don’t care which is your party or who you vote for. Just do your duty. And you must do it.”
Adeboye noted that his assignment is supreme and nobody will distract him.
“I will pray for this nation. I asked for 1000 of you to fast for 72 hours praying for Nigeria and I got more number. We need to pray even more. There were some problems we didn’t identify at the time but which are here now.
“The truth is that as of now I still don’t know whether or not there will be an election next year. I haven’t said there will be no election next year. I just don’t know if there will be because my father has not talked about it to me at all. He told me about the last one June of the year before, so it is not late. I don’t know yet.
“And it could be because He is saying take no turn about tomorrow because sufficient for the day is the evil thereof. I have a lot of things now occupying my mind for which my partners should join me in prayers,” Adeboye added.
The cleric said he is more concerned about the killings in Kaduna, oil theft, Nigeria’s increasing debt profile and other current national challenges.
He said the clarification was important amid the criticisms against the church’s creation of a politics directorate and the instruction to members to be politically involved in the 2023 electioneering process.