Ex-Minister, Ezekwesili blasts Reuben Abati media, others over ‘fake’ Pastor Adeboye’s endorsement of Tinubu

Former Minister of Education, Dr (Mrs) Oby Ezekwesili, Tuesday, took head on media publications, including the Vanguard and Reuben Abati, over a purported fake endorsement of president-elect, Bola Tinubu attributed to the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (Redeemed), Pastor Enoch Adeboye in the viral reports.

Dr Ezekwesili, a member of the church, who raged at the publications, declared it fake as, according to her, Pastor Adeboye never made the statement credited to him by the publications, just as she berated the named media, accusing them of ‘helping to spread fake news.’

While some of the publications claimed the Redeemed General Overseer made remarks, last Sunday, during a Good Governance and Accountability forum organised by the Dare Adeboye Foundation, others claimed the statement was made during the church’s Monthly Thanksgiving Service held every first Sunday of the month.

This is, however, as Ezekwesili’s critics have challenged her to wait for an official rebuttal from the church before confronting the media organisations.

The reports which have since gone viral with claims that the Redeemed General Overseer has given his tacit endorsement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Tinubu.

A revisit to the report, however, revealed that the statement credited to the Redeemed General Overseer was not made by him.

Ezekwesili fumed at the Vanguard Media and Reuben Abati reports which carried the headline “May 29: Tinubu will fix Nigeria with God’s help,’ as she called it ‘rubbish.’

In separate tweets via her Twitter handle, (@obyezeks), Tuesday, the former minister blasted both publishers, advising them to ‘Do yourself good and take this utter rubbish down.’

Replying directly to the Vanguard report, Ezekwesili wrote:”@vanguardngrnews has your desperation to legitimize an election that is still being judicially contested gotten to the level where you fraudulently manufacture tales like this?

“You know Pastor @PastorEAAdeboye NEVER said this.

“Do yourself good and take this utter rubbish down.”

Also, responding to the same report on the Reuben Abati media, the former minister wrote: “@abati1990 How so unprofessional, Reuben.  You are helping to spread FAKE NEWS? Well, I am not entirely surprised.

“You know Pastor @PastorEAAdeboye NEVER said this. If you did not know, you could have at least fact-checked, not so?  Do yourself good and take this utter rubbish down.”

Responding to The Nation’s report, Ezekwesili provided a clarification on what transpired at the thanksgiving service where the purported claims by Pastor Adeboye was made.

“We @rccghq hold a joint Monthly Thanksgiving Service on First Sundays during which all our Parishes join up online for sermon by Pastor @PastorEAAdeboye. We had the May one on Sunday 7th.

“Pastor Adeboye never said the lies these newspapers have widely spread.

“Please ignore,” the former minister said.

However, other Twitter users were quick to remind the ex-minister that Pastor Adeboye has yet to confirm or deny the statement credited to him.

“Madam Obi, let Adeboye refute it. That statement was made by an ‘officer’ within his organization. The onus is not on the press. Why are unofficial surrogates speaking 4 him? Not until he publicly refutes it  the public will continue to believe Abati. Advise him,” wrote a Twitter user.

Meanwhile, the report where Pastor Adeboye purportedly made the claims was during the Dare Adeboye Foundation Change and Development Forum which held, last week, under the theme of: “Good Governance and Accountability,” at the Redemption Camp, in Ogun State.

Speaking, both former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and the Chairman of Opportunic Global Fund Mr. Kola Oyeneyin harped on leadership as being the driver of good governance and strong institution in every developed parts of the world.

“Nigeria seems to be at the bottom of every development statistics. The statistics of 133 million poor people reflect the reality in our country.

”Whoever is coming must be ready to roll up his sleeves as economic development is more than job creation program. It is creation of wealth for citizens.

“Also, we cannot afford the mantra of 97 to 5 per cent I talked about. Every part of this country must be included and giving the right to prominent position in the incoming administration.

“Then, we must secure this country. Increasing the quality and quantity of our law enforcement agencies through trainings, emoluments among others. These are among other measures to be taken to secure Nigeria,” Mimiko had said.

On his part, Pastor Leke Adeboye, the son and Senior Personal Assistant to the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, said the Foundation aimed at touching lives through building the nation, advancing the kingdom of God and advancing his vision that has now become Nigeria’s vision.

”The Foundation had been pushing boundaries of touching lives through direct individual impact, community-based impact and national development through the initiatives of Kingdom advancement, youths’ empowerment, education, leadership and governance, sanitation and clean water initiatives.”