Peter Obi: It Is Unfair to Shift Responsibilities to an 84-Year-Old Man, Urges Nigerian Youths

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has warned Nigerian youths to desist from abusing the general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Enoch Adeboye.

Obi advised that Adeboye should not be blamed for the actions of Nigerians and warned against any attempt to cause religious divisions.

Obi was reportedly issuing the warning in a post on his 𝕏 account.

“When they cannot compete on ideas, character, performance and vision, some politicians use such sentiments,” he said.

“Now I see similar things emerging again, sometimes in more subtle and sophisticated ways,” Obi said. People sincerely think they are fighting for a good cause, and do not realise the wider agenda behind such campaigns, which are often seeded, magnified and propagated.”

He said many good spirited Nigerians unwittingly became part of the narratives designed to sow suspicion and disunity among citizens.

The ex-presidential aspirant said that the inability of politicians to compete on the basis of ideas, performance, character and vision often leads to their resort to exploiting ethnic, religious and identity differences to gain political advantage.

Obi warned that the same tactics are beginning to come back, sometimes in more subtle ways, through narratives meant to divide Nigerians.

He also defended Adeboye, calling the cleric one of Nigeria’s foremost fathers of faith who has preached peace, prayer, love, reconciliation and national unity throughout his ministry.

“Let me state categorically that Pastor Enoch Adeboye is one of our foremost fathers of faith in our country. For decades he has preached the virtues of peace, prayer, love, reconciliation and national unity. Even in the face of provocation his response has been one of humility, restraint, wisdom and grace.

“It would be unfair for young and able-bodied Nigerians to transfer to him responsibilities that properly belong to them at the age of 84. It’s primarily the younger generation that bears the onus of building a better Nigeria. “They have the responsibility to lead the conversations, to champion the reforms and to drive the positive change our nation desperately needs,” said Obi.

He urged the younger generation to lead the conversation on reforms and national development, noting that they should not allow themselves to be used to promote division but take the responsibility of building a better Nigeria.