International human rights lawyer, Emmanuel Ogebe, has highlighted that the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, members of the United States Congress and top American officials were instrumental in recent US foreign policy wins regarding Nigeria.
Ogebe spoke at an appreciation dinner in Washington DC held in honour of US President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other figures for what he described as recent proactive engagements on insecurity and persecution in Nigeria.
At the event, Ogebe said Adeboye inspired the formation of the Christian Association of Nigerian Americans (CANAN, USA) which later mobilised Nigerian Christians in America and successfully advocated for the designation of Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation by the Barack Obama administration.
He also used the occasion to reveal behind-the-scenes efforts that led to congressional fact-finding visits to Nigeria and honoured US lawmakers and officials who supported Nigeria-related advocacy in Washington.
A posthumous award was presented to late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, while Congressman Chris Smith and Congressman Riley Moore were also recognised for their interventions and visits to Nigeria.
According to Ogebe, Jackson Lee personally contacted him to arrange a trip to Nigeria after expressing concern over developments in the country.
“The first time I got a phone call from her, yes, she called — I didn’t call her. She said, ‘I’ve got to go to Nigeria. Can you get me to Nigeria? What is happening is wrong,’” he said.
He added that Jackson Lee remained committed to the cause until shortly before her death, recalling that she also called him to organise what turned out to be her final press conference on Nigeria.
Ogebe said Ambassador Sam Brownback also played a historic role by formally stamping Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern during the first Trump administration.
He said CANAN’s emergence marked the largest mobilisation of Nigerian Christians in America and helped intensify pressure for international action against Boko Haram. “Our daddy here who just left, Daddy G.O., was the one who inspired the formation of CANAN,” Ogebe said.
“CANAN was the largest mobilisation of Nigerian Christians in America in history, and we fought together to get Boko Haram designated as a foreign terrorist organisation.”
He also praised Smith for insisting on travelling to Jos despite security concerns and resistance from officials.
Ogebe said the lawmaker was told no congressman had ever gone to Jos, but insisted on making the trip.
He further commended Moore for visiting an internally displaced persons camp in Benue State during a trip to Nigeria in December, describing the visit as significant. According to him, Moore’s visit stood out because, in his view, even Nigerian authorities had avoided such a trip because of security concerns.
Speaking after the event, Ogebe described the gala as emotional and significant, particularly because Adeboye addressed the gathering and reflected on victims of violence in Nigeria, including the late Eunice Olawale and the reported killing of newborn twins of an RCCG pastor in northern Nigeria.
Ogebe said he had for years carried out advocacy on Nigeria in the United States largely alone until CANAN was mobilised into action by Adeboye. “I was virtually advocating single-handedly in the U.S. until DGO mobilised CANAN into action across the U.S. to arise and act over a dozen years ago,” he said.
“Today there are now many Nigeria advocates.” He also welcomed the presence of a representative of the Nigerian ambassador at the event, saying it was commendable that people with differing views on the security situation in Nigeria were able to share the same room and engage on peace, justice and equity.
Ogebe, however, said he would have preferred the Nigerian ambassador to attend in person, while criticising the Federal Government’s spending on lobbyists abroad. He said dialogue among stakeholders would be more productive than what he described as efforts to discredit genuine advocates for peace and justice in Nigeria.
