Speaking during the church's 2023 Convention themed "Beyond Expectations," Pastor Adeboye emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and avoiding further conflicts in Nigeria.
Pastor Adeboye expressed his concerns about the ongoing challenges within Nigeria, stressing that the nation is already grappling with multiple critical battles.
He stated, "We are still fighting wars against hunger, we are fighting some serious wars and sure we don’t want more wars. We want to win the ones we are fighting and we don’t want fresh ones; whether within or without our borders."
Drawing from his personal experiences and historical perspectives, the 81-year-old cleric shared his recollections of the Nigerian Civil War that transpired between July 1967 and January 1970.
Having witnessed the turmoil of that period, Pastor Adeboye firmly asserted his preference for peace over conflict, reiterating, "Nigeria still needs a lot of prayers...if anybody ask me to choose between war and peace, I will choose peace."
Pastor Adeboye highlighted the myriad challenges Nigeria currently confronts, including the battles against kidnappers, terrorists, and killer herdsmen. He expressed the critical need for the nation to channel its efforts into prevailing over these existing threats.
He remarked, "And we are already fighting many wars in Nigeria, we are fighting wars against kidnappers, we are fighting wars against terrorists...there are still places in Nigeria today that when people go to bed, they are not sure they would not be killed before tomorrow morning."
The pastor's perspective aligns with the recent controversy surrounding ECOWAS' proposal to deploy soldiers to the Niger Republic following the military takeover that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
ECOWAS issued an ultimatum to the coup leaders, demanding the restoration of the constitutionally elected government or facing potential military intervention through the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG).
Nigeria, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, holds a significant role in these discussions. Despite the heightened tensions, Nigeria's decision to cut off the electricity supply to the Niger Republic and the imposition of economic sanctions, the coup leaders have remained unyielding.