The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has provided justification to the creation of Office of Directorate of Politics and Governance to engage members willing to be involved in politics ahead of the 2023 general election.

The RCCG led by Pastor Enoch Adeboye had released a memo, stating that the newly-created directorate would help to coordinate the engagement of members willing to be involved in politics and “mobilise support for them when required”.

The memo with reference number RCCG/AGO/ADM/AA.MEMO/20/01/2022, was addressed to all regions, provinces, zones and other levels of the church.

It was titled, ‘Office of Directorate of Politics and Governance’, and signed by the Assistant General Overseer (Admin/Personnel) Pastor J. F. Odesola.

The memo dated February 28, 2022, was greeted with wide condemnations, with many saying it was released to support the purported presidential ambition of the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and other members of the RCCG in governance including Remi Tinubu, the wife of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, amongst others.

Although, Osinbajo has yet to officially declare his intention to run for the number one seat in 2023, scores of his supporters have been urging him to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

However, the RCCG has debunked the insinuations that the memo was released to support a particular candidate ahead of the 2023 general election.

The Assistant General Overseer (Admin & Personnel) of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Johnson Odesola, while reacting to the development via a statement on Saturday, said it was not stated in the memo that the church would support a particular candidate.

Odesola added: “As a big and dynamic church, RCCG considers herself one of the nation’s stakeholders and the work of the directorate is in direct response to the advisory of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to support our members on effective and efficient voter education and the discharge of their related civic rights and obligations.

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“As a big and dynamic church, RCCG considers it necessary to respond to the growing interest of its members in politics and governance by ensuring that their standing as law-abiding citizens in all spheres of life is neither compromised nor fall below the standard expected of followers of Christ.”

The Assistant General Overseer anything stated that the RCCG would not engage in anything different from some other denominations such as the Catholic Church which has been keeping its members abreast with politics.

He assured that the church would not promote any particular candidate since it was aware its members are in different political parties.

“RCCG will continue to offer spiritual and moral support to its members through prayers, encouragement, exhortation, counseling, and moral instructions  as would be expected from an organisation which on record is fully conscious of its Christian Social Responsibility,” Odesola added.

The memo which was obtained by The Star on Thursday read: “We write to formally notify you that the mission authority has created the Office of Directorate of Politics and Governance in the RCCG. Further to this, Pastor Timothy Olaniyan (PICP Lagos Province 12) has been appointed to lead the Office.

“You are kindly requested to appoint with immediate effect a Provincial Officer for your province and also ensure that the same is done at all levels of the church – zone, area and parish.

“The essence of this directorate is to help coordinate the engagement of our people who are willing to be involved in politics as well as mobilize support for them when required.”

“Kindly send to the office of the undersigned details of your Regional and Provinces Coordinators within the next two weeks of receiving this letter.”

The Star