Obi Sparks Debate as He Defends Adeboye and Challenges Nigerian Youths

(Peter Obi. Photo by Arise News)

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has called on young Nigerians to stop placing responsibilities on Pastor Enoch Adeboye that rightfully belong to them, describing such expectations as unreasonable and unfair to the revered cleric.

In the same breath, Obi cautioned Nigerian youths against falling prey to ethnic and religious divisions, warning that certain politicians deliberately stoke such sentiments when they lack the ideas, character, track record, and vision to compete on merit.

Obi made these remarks in a statement posted online, on Thursday, amid a wave of social media criticism directed at Pastor Adeboye over the country’s deteriorating security situation.

Many young Nigerians had expressed the opinion that the cleric should lead protests against insecurity, as he had done during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Reflecting on the 2023 elections, particularly events in Lagos, Obi noted that conversations which should have focused on governance, competence, and national development were instead hijacked by tribal and ethnic sentiments.

He warned that similar patterns are beginning to resurface, sometimes in more calculated and sophisticated forms, with divisive narratives being planted and amplified often by individuals who genuinely believe they are championing a worthy cause, unaware of the larger agenda driving such campaigns.

He added that many well-meaning Nigerians have unknowingly been drawn into storylines designed to breed suspicion and sow disunity.

Obi also came to the defence of Pastor Adeboye, describing him as one of Nigeria’s most prominent faith leaders who has spent decades consistently advocating for peace, prayer, love, reconciliation, and national unity, always responding to provocation with humility, restraint, and grace.

He stressed that at 84 years of age, it would be deeply unfair to burden the cleric with responsibilities that able-bodied young Nigerians should be shouldering themselves.

He concluded by emphasising that the task of building a better Nigeria belongs primarily to the younger generation, urging them to lead the charge on national reforms and meaningful conversations rather than allow themselves to be manipulated into becoming instruments of division.