The National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, Peter Obi, has warned Nigerian youths against ethnic and religious divisions, urging them not to be used to promote narratives that undermine national unity.
 
Obi stated this in a post on his X account yesterday, amid a wave of social media attacks targeting the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, over the worsening insecurity in the country.
 
Many young Nigerians had demanded that Adeboye speak out or lead protests against the Federal Government, citing a viral photograph purportedly showing the cleric holding a placard during a demonstration against the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
 
RCCG has since debunked the claim, clarifying that the image was taken during a peaceful walk organised under the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and had no connection to any political protest.
 
In his message, Obi said the 2023 general elections, particularly in Lagos State, offered lessons on how public discourse can be diverted from issues of governance and development into ethnic and identity-based sentiments.
 
He said politicians who struggle to compete on ideas, performance, and vision often resort to exploiting such divisions.

Obi cautioned that many Nigerians often participate in such narratives without understanding the broader intent behind them.
 
The former Anambra State governor defended Adeboye, describing him as a respected religious leader who has consistently preached peace, unity, and reconciliation.
 
He said it would be unfair to burden the cleric with responsibilities that belong to younger Nigerians, urging youths to take responsibility for driving national change.

Also, the former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has defended Adeboye against claims that he has remained silent on Nigeria’s challenges, saying the cleric has consistently spoken on insecurity, governance, and restructuring over the years.
 
In a statement shared on social media yesterday, Ezekwesili said Adeboye had publicly addressed national issues across different administrations, regardless of who occupied the presidency.
 
According to her, the real issue is not whether the cleric spoke out but whether Nigerians paid attention to his interventions.
 
“No, Pastor Adeboye is not our problem. He speaks. He spoke in the 1990s. He spoke in the early 2000s. He spoke in 2010. He spoke in 2020. He spoke in 2025,” she wrote.
 
Ezekwesili cited remarks by Adeboye during a Holy Ghost Service in November 2025, in which he reportedly urged the President Bola Tinubu administration to take decisive action against insecurity.