The Department of Politics and Governance of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) is teaming up with APC national youth leader Dayo Israel to organise a political boot camp for its members nationwide.

The boot camp will teach the church’s youths to participate in politics through the All Progressives Congress.

RCCG’s national youth president, Daniel Olawande, in a video, mobilised the church’s young members to the boot camp.

“I want to specially invite all the youth executives of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and, by extension, every young person in the Redeemed Christian Church of God to join our political boot camp with Dayo Israel,” stated Mr Olawande.

The RCCG youth leader added, “Honourable Dayo Israel is the national youth leader of the All Progressives Congress in Nigeria, and he is going to be talking about ‘The Government: Young, Vibrant and Involved’.”

Regarding the event, which had since been held on Sunday, Mr Olawande said of the APC chieftain, “That’s a young man raised in this church by the grace of God, and he’s doing well politically. I want you to be part of this.” 

The RCCG youth leader pledged that the church would “not just be praying and be speaking in tongues.” 

“Without being involved, we can’t effectively make a change, and I want to challenge you. We need more righteous people in the government sector. I want to say to young people that you can’t keep watching,” stressed Mr Olawande. “You can’t keep complaining about the government. You have to get involved. Anything you’re not part of, you can’t make a change in it.” 

He further explained that “the government should be upon our shoulder, and until the government is upon your shoulder, you cannot effectively carry the weight of the government.”

One of RCCG’s respected pastors, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, is aspiring to be Nigeria’s president in 2023. 

“The government will not be upon your shoulder by quoting scriptures. The government will be upon your shoulder by going into the government,” Mr Olawande said. 

The church has consistently denied being political since establishing a political directorate despite flaunting its political ties to the APC, indirectly canvassing church members to support the party. 

Earlier this month, the political department said that only Mr Osinbajo, through the APC, could end corruption and give Nigerians access to free education.