By SCM Religion rCorrespondent
LAGOS — Severe backlash and emotional outbursts have trailed the alleged last-minute cancellation of a nationwide peaceful protest by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), which was originally scheduled to address the worsening insecurity plaguing the country.
The demonstration, conceptualized as a silent placard walk, was meant to follow a mandatory three-day fasting period observed by the church’s global congregation.
However, worshippers who turned up on Sunday morning in anticipation of the march were reportedly met with an abrupt directive halting the exercise.
The sudden policy U-turn has sparked fierce condemnation from congregants, many of whom are accusing the church leadership of compromising its stance on social justice due to political alignments.
‘We Were Ready to March’
An aggrieved member of the church, speaking on the condition of anonymity, expressed deep betrayal over how the situation was handled. He noted that members had been thoroughly mobilized for the event, only to have the rugs pulled from under their feet at the service’s commencement.
”Last week Sunday, we were told that we would do a three-day fasting which started on Friday, and on Sunday there wouldn’t be service in every Redeemed Christian Church of God. They said we would head out for a peaceful walk protest. We wouldn’t say anything, but only walk with our placards,” the source explained.
”I was already dressed to go for the march, but on getting to the church, we were told they had received another message that the protest shouldn’t hold again.”
Allegations of Political Interference
The sudden cancellation has fueled speculation regarding state interference, with fingers pointing directly toward the presidency. The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, is an ordained pastor within the RCCG establishment.
Disappointed faithful are alleging that the General Overseer of the ministry, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, may have called off the protest following high-level political pressure to avoid embarrassing the current administration.
”Just because the wife of the president of this country, Oluremi Tinubu, who is also a pastor in Redeem, gave an order, you people cancelled the protest. Daddy, may God judge you,” the disgruntled member lamented, directing his grievances at the church’s leadership.
“You’re collecting from the less privileged, yet you can’t speak up for them. You’re influential, yet you can’t use your voice to save the poor masses.”
Fear and Despair Grow Among the Masses
The cancellation comes amid rising national anxieties regarding safety. Citing the recent, tragic killing of a school teacher in Oyo State, the aggrieved congregant noted that ordinary citizens no longer feel secure anywhere—and can no longer rely on religious institutions for sanctuary.
”I almost wept in church. I am a teacher. Look at what happened to the teacher that was killed in Oyo. We’re no longer safe in this country. We’re finished. The church is ruined,” he cried out. “Churches are supposed to be a safe place for people to run to, but now they’ve been compromised.”
While maintaining his foundational faith in Christianity, the worshipper stated that his trust in religious leaders had been permanently shattered by the incident.
As of the time of filing this report, the national leadership of the Redeemed Christian Church of God has yet to issue an official statement clarifying the circumstances or the sudden security logistics that led to the cancellation of the highly anticipated march.
