Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has clarified that Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, was ordained as an Assistant Pastor over 10 years ago before her husband assumed the presidency.
Speaking at the May monthly Holy Ghost Service tagged “Excellent Counsel”, held at the church’s sprawling 3 km by 3 km auditorium in Simawa, Ogun State, the revered cleric addressed criticism targeting the First Lady’s role within the church.
He revealed that Mrs Tinubu underwent the full rigours of the church’s spiritual formation process, including the baptismal class, the Workers in Training class, and the School of Disciples at the national headquarters before her ordination as an assistant pastor ten years ago.
Quoting scripture, Adeboye added, “There is no place in the Bible where it says the wife must dictate to the husband. What my Bible says is, ‘Husband, love your wife; wife, submit to your husband.’”
In his words: “Some people have been asking how we can allow the first lady to be a pastor in The Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG. Let me tell you one thing: the first lady did not join RCCG when she became first lady; she was ordained an assistant pastor 10 years ago. At that time, her husband was not even a contestant for the presidency. She passed through the baptismal class, workers in training class, and school of disciples at the national headquarters before she was ordained an assistant pastor 10 years ago.
“And she has not been promoted since then because there are still conditions she must satisfy before she can be ordained as a full pastor. And there is nowhere in the Bible where it says, “The wife must dictate to the husband.” What my Bible says is, “Husband, love your wife; wife, submit to your husband.”
The RCCG leader also noted that the First Lady has not received any promotion since her initial ordination, as there remain conditions she must satisfy before becoming a full pastor.
While declining to specify the three major offences that could lead to removal from pastoral office in RCCG, Adeboye confirmed that Mrs Tinubu “has not committed any of such offences”.
Pastor Adeboye also dismissed suggestions that the church is aligned with any political party, declaring that the RCCG remains a house of worship open to all Nigerians regardless of their political affiliation.
“Some people are saying RCCG is an APC church. I just smile. In RCCG, you will find a governor from the Peoples Democratic Party sitting down with a governor from the Labour Party, APC, and APGA. By the special help of God, we are representative of the whole nation, and that is what we will continue to be.”
The cleric made clear that while all politicians are welcome to worship, the pulpit remains off-limits for political speech.
“If you saw one governor among us today dancing and you were expecting he would be called forward to say something, we don’t do that. But if you come to worship with us, you are welcome. Our duty is to pray for everybody.”
