This Picture Is Not Related to a Protest Against Jonathan

By Oluwaseye Ogunsanya

Claim

A X user PIED @obehieguakhide posted a picture of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor E.A. Adeboye and his members marching on the streets with placards to illustrate that the clergyman protested against former president, Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

Verdict

Misleading, the picture used to illustrate the claim that Pastor Adeboye led a protest against Jonathan in 2015 is misleading as the picture is from a prayer walk in 2020.

Full Text

A X user PIED @obehieguakhide posted a picture of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor E.A. Adeboye and his members marching on the streets with placards to illustrate that the clergyman protested against former president, Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

“He protested against GEJ’s government in 2015! Now he seeks prayers for corrupt politicians in 2023!” The post reads.

The post has garnered over 2k reposts, over 5k likes and 378 quotes or comments as at press time.

Similarly other users had shared the post

The user was reacting to a comment made by the Pastor-in-charge of Region 12 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Richard Adeboye who called for more prayers for the leadership of the country to overcome its array of woes and challenges.

While speaking with newsmen at this year’s Halleluyah Mega Praise Night, Season 2 with the theme, ‘Dominion’, held at the Shimawa High School, Ogun State, Adeboye said rather than protesting and cursing them as done in the past with no reprieve in sight, Nigerians should rather rely on the instrument of prayer for a desired turnaround for the good of the country.

Adeboye said, “There is no nation like Nigeria. The fact that we are still surviving is a symbol that God has created this nation in a very unique way and very soon, we shall shout victory at last.

“Nigerians should stand in the place of responsibility, because I have this philosophy that every possibility of God is compelled by the responsibility of man. Let’s do what we’re supposed to do…”

Verification

Did Pastor Adeboye Lead A March Against Jonathan In 2015?

FactCheckAfrica did a Google search to find out whether Adeboye led protest against Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 but we found something slightly related — it was a report by Vanguard News dated October 11, 2010, with the headline ‘Kidnapping: RCCG petitions Jonathan…to stage one million-man protest‘

According to the report, the church started a nationwide collection of signatures of its members that would participate in a planned one million-man protest rally against the spate of insecurity in Nigeria as at that time.

The move was initiated by Pastor Adeboye, having insisted that it was high time religious organisations raised awareness over the depreciating standard of security in the country.

“We cannot afford to celebrate, clinking glasses and congratulating each other when a horrendous decimation of the most vulnerable is picking up a pace and our stock of human capital heading for the abyss.” He added.

The report also added that the petition was sent to the then president, Goodluck Jonathan by Pastor Adeboye but from our findings, the one million-man protest did not hold.

Relatively, upon further checks we found out a news report by PUNCH dated 2nd February 2020 with the headline ‘PHOTOS: Pastor Adeboye, carrying placard, leads protest against insecurity, killings” 

According to the report, the clergyman led millions of his church members on a prayer walk to end the spate of insecurity and killings in Nigeria. He also instructed his church members all over Nigeria to observe the walk.

Conclusion

The claim is misleading, FactCheckAfrica can confirm that Pastor Adeboye did not protest against Jonathan in 2015 and the picture used to illustrate the claim is misleading, as the picture is from a prayer walk in 2020 organised by the church to end the spate of insecurity and killings in Nigeria.

Additionally, the Adeboye mentioned by the user was not the one who made the statement that elicited his reaction and that of others.