Nigerian filmmaker and cleric Mike Bamiloye has defended Enoch Adeboye following calls from some Nigerians urging the senior pastor to lead a protest over the country’s security challenges.
Responding to the criticism, Bamiloye said it is unreasonable to expect an 84-year-old religious leader to spearhead a protest against the government, citing both Adeboye’s age and the nature of his spiritual calling.
He explained that the pastor’s participation in a previous protest against insecurity was not a personal initiative but a directive issued by the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, which instructed member churches to organize peaceful demonstrations. According to Bamiloye, Adeboye simply complied with that directive and led his denomination as requested.
Bamiloye emphasized that the primary responsibility of church leaders is to pray for the peace, stability, and progress of the nation, while seeking divine intervention in governance and national affairs.
In his statement, he said:
“Expecting an 84-year-old servant of God to lead a protest against a government does not make sense, considering both his age and the mandate of his calling. When he participated in a protest against insecurity, it was based on the directive of CAN and PFN, which asked churches to take part. Our major responsibility as the Church of God is to continually pray for the peace of our nation and for God’s intervention in government, as instructed in 1 Timothy 2:1-3.”
Reason Pastor Adeboye can’t lead protest on insecurity — Filmmaker, Mike Bamiloye
