Our Politics Directorate Has Nothing To Do With Osinbajo — RCCG

Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG led by Pastor Enoch Adeboye, says its newly created Office of Directorate of Politics and Governance has nothing to do with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) or any person who may have political ambition in 2023.

Gatekeepers News reports that the RCCG Head of Media and Public Relations, Pastor Olaitan Olubiyi, said this in a telephone chat with Saturday PUNCH.

Earlier, In a leaked memo addressed to all regions, provinces, zones and other levels of the church, the mission said the directorate was created for political education of its members.

The memo dated February 28, 2022, and titled, ‘Office of Directorate of Politics and Governance’ has the reference 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 partly read, “We write to formally notify you that the mission authority has created the Office of Directorate of Politics and Governance in the RCCG. Further to this, Pastor Timothy Olaniyan (PICP Lagos Province 12) has been appointed to lead the Office.

“You are kindly requested to appoint with immediate effect a Provincial Officer for your province and also ensure that the same is done at all levels of the church – zone, area and parish. The essence of this directorate is to help coordinate the engagement of our people who are willing to be involved in politics as well as mobilize support for them when required.”

RCCG, therefore, asked that its parishes to send the details of its nominated coordinators for the office to Odesola within two weeks of receipt of the letter.

The letter has generated controversies signaling that it was purportedly written to galvanize support for the rumored Presidential ambition of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in 2023.

Olubiyi said the directorate wasn’t created for Osinbajo but rather the politics directorate of the church was created to sensitise members of the church for active political participation including getting their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the 2023 general elections.

He added that the RCCG has been creating political awareness for its members since the transition from military to civil rule in 1999 and there was nothing new about the development.

He said Christians cannot afford to act ignorantly by staying off politics because the choice of political leadership affects the entire wellbeing of any people.

The RCCG spokesman further advised other churches in Nigeria and elsewhere to emulate the activities of the church by sensitising their members to be politically involved.