As the festive season of 2025 approaches, a prominent Nigerian cleric has called for a marked departure from the usual boisterous celebrations. Bishop Seun Adeoye has urged the Christian community across the nation to observe the upcoming Christmas in a quiet and reflective mood.
A Call for Reflection Amidst National Pain
In a significant statement released in Osogbo on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, Bishop Adeoye appealed for solemnity. He is the Acting Nuncio of the World Bishops Council in Africa and the founder of Sufficient Grace and Truth International Ministries. The bishop stressed that this year's Yuletide should be commemorated "in memories of thousands of souls murdered in the country by bandits and terrorists."
He further asked Christians to remember, in sympathy, the thousands of fellow citizens still held in captivity, enduring torture day and night. Adeoye, who also serves as the International Communications Director of the Worldwide Anglican Church, encouraged believers to fervently pray for their persecutors, hoping for a change of heart. He invoked the teachings of Christ, stating that Jesus would choose to pray for his enemies and urge repentance rather than seek vengeance.
Political Warning: A 'Lifetime Hidden Agenda'
Moving beyond the spiritual counsel, Bishop Adeoye issued a stark political warning. He expressed a strong perception of impending changes in Nigeria's political landscape. The cleric alleged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is eyeing the position of Nigeria's first life president.
According to the bishop, Tinubu's current political maneuvers extend far beyond tactics for the 2027 elections. He described them as "clandestine moves" aimed at altering the democratic rules to entrench one man in power indefinitely. "These plans are bigger than a second-term move; it is a lifetime hidden agenda. We see the signs every day," Adeoye maintained.
He painted a grim picture of a political environment where opposition has been hammered and broken, while key institutions of state have been subdued.
- The judiciary and the legislature are "on their knees."
- Institutions like the military, paramilitary forces, and the electoral umpire are under firm control.
- Activists have been muted and sidelined.
Adeoye predicted that propagandists would soon be fully mobilized to justify this move, using examples of nations like China and Russia where leadership changes are infrequent. He also warned that spiritualists and tribal lords would emerge to declare it a divine mandate, branding opponents as enemies of the state.
A Plea for National Unity and Democratic Integrity
Concluding his powerful statement, Bishop Seun Adeoye issued a dual plea. He warned anyone involved in plans that could lead to Nigeria's disintegration to desist immediately, noting that nothing is secret before God. Directly addressing the President, he urged Bola Ahmed Tinubu to bury any dream of a life presidency, stating unequivocally that such an ambition portends grave danger for Nigeria's continued existence as a united entity.
The bishop's call sets a somber tone for the 2025 festivities, intertwining spiritual duty with a urgent civic alert to the nation.
