Nigeria’s former presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has urged young Nigerians not to expect the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Enoch Adeboye, to take on the responsibility of rebuilding the country at his age.

In a post shared on Thursday via X, Obi cautioned youths against political manipulation and ethnic division, stressing that nation-building must rest on the younger generation.

According to a report by TheCable, Obi’s comments come amid viral claims on social media comparing Adeboye’s past and present public positions on national issues, allegations the church has dismissed as misleading.

The cleric was also wrongly linked to past protests during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, a claim RCCG clarified was based on a misrepresented image from a church-organised peace walk.

Obi described Adeboye as a respected father of faith who has spent decades preaching peace, unity and reconciliation, adding that expecting him to lead national reform at 84 would be unfair.

He said young Nigerians must take responsibility for driving reforms, leading conversations and demanding accountability from leaders.

Obi also warned against attempts to inflame ethnic and religious tensions, noting that similar patterns emerged after the 2023 elections.

He stressed that divisive narratives are often engineered to distract citizens from governance issues, urging youths to “follow the facts” and resist manipulation.

The former Anambra State governor further said national progress can only be achieved through unity and collective responsibility rather than blame-shifting.

Support also came from cleric Mike Bamiloye, founder of Mount Zion Faith Ministries, who defended Adeboye’s record and called for respect towards religious leaders amid growing online debates.