J.F. Odesola/
Yesterday, someone forwarded a video to me. As my wife and I sat together and watched it, I felt compelled to respond – not out of anger, but out of concern. What I saw was yet another example of how easily false narratives can be packaged and presented as truth simply to attract attention and gain cheap popularity.
Sadly, this is becoming increasingly common in our society.
We live in a generation where information travels faster than ever before. With a smartphone and an internet connection, a story can move from one corner of the world to another within minutes. A video can go viral before breakfast. A rumor can become a trending topic before lunch. And a lie can reach millions of people before anyone stops to ask a simple but important question: “Is this actually true?”
Technology has undoubtedly made life easier. It has connected people across continents, given ordinary individuals a voice, and opened up opportunities for communication that previous generations could only imagine. But like every powerful tool, it can be used for good or for harm.
Unfortunately, we are witnessing a growing culture where some bloggers, content creators, commentators, and social media influencers appear more interested in attracting attention than pursuing the truth.
In today’s online world, visibility has become a form of currency. The more followers you have, the more influential you appear. The more views your content attracts, the more relevant you seem. As a result, some people have discovered that controversy often sells better than truth.
Facts may be boring to some audiences.
Truth may not always trend.
But controversy attracts clicks.
Outrage generates engagement.
And sensationalism often goes viral.
This is why some individuals deliberately exaggerate stories, twist facts, take statements out of context, or even fabricate narratives altogether. The goal is not necessarily to inform the public but to keep people talking, reacting, commenting, and sharing.
Sadly, one of the recurring targets of such misinformation has been The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and its General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye.
Anyone familiar with the history of RCCG knows that this is not a small local congregation hidden from public view. It is a global movement with millions of members spread across nations and continents. Through its churches, schools, hospitals, charitable programs, youth initiatives, and community development projects, RCCG has touched countless lives around the world.
Likewise, Pastor Adeboye’s influence extends far beyond the walls of the church. For decades, he has been regarded as one of the most respected Christian leaders in Africa and beyond. Through his teachings, leadership, and personal example, many have found faith, hope, direction, and purpose.
Yet despite these contributions, there are those who continually seek to portray him and the church through the lens of suspicion, speculation, and misinformation.
The question is: Why?
The answer is not difficult to understand.
In the age of social media, controversy often attracts more attention than truth.
A balanced report may receive little interest.
A factual explanation may not generate enough views.
But a provocative headline can spread like wildfire.
A misleading video can attract thousands of comments.
An unverified accusation can trend within hours.
Some individuals understand this reality and unfortunately exploit it for personal gain.
The video I watched yesterday is just one example among many. It reflected a growing trend where people rush to conclusions without adequate facts, where assumptions are presented as evidence, and where narratives are created first while verification comes later—if it comes at all.
One of the greatest challenges of our digital age is that people often consume information faster than they verify it.
Many people read headlines without reading articles.
They watch short clips without understanding the full context.
They share posts without confirming their accuracy.
They react emotionally before investigating objectively.
As a result, falsehood spreads quickly while truth struggles to catch up.
What makes this even more dangerous is that once misinformation enters the public space, correcting it becomes extremely difficult. Even when facts eventually emerge, many people continue believing the original false narrative.
A lie may be exposed, but the damage it causes often remains.
Reputations can be harmed.
Trust can be weakened.
Relationships can be strained.
And public perception can be distorted.
This is why misinformation should never be treated lightly.
The issue goes beyond RCCG or Pastor Adeboye. It affects society as a whole.
When truth becomes secondary to popularity, everyone loses.
When facts are sacrificed for engagement, public trust suffers.
When narratives become more important than evidence, confusion replaces clarity.
We must also recognize that there is a significant difference between genuine criticism and deliberate misinformation.
No public figure is above scrutiny.
No organization is beyond accountability.
Constructive criticism is healthy and necessary in every society.
However, criticism must be based on facts.
It must be fair.
It must be honest.
It must seek understanding rather than destruction.
There is a world of difference between questioning a decision and manufacturing a story.
There is a difference between disagreement and distortion.
There is a difference between reporting facts and creating narratives.
Unfortunately, many of the attacks directed at Pastor Adeboye and RCCG often cross that line.
In many cases, statements are quoted without context. Messages are selectively edited. Stories are exaggerated. Facts are ignored. Corrections are overlooked. And when the truth finally emerges, it rarely receives the same attention as the original misinformation.
This reveals a troubling reality: sometimes the objective is not truth but traffic.
Not understanding but engagement.
Not accuracy but attention.
As a society, we must do better.
Every blogger must remember that influence comes with responsibility.
Every content creator must understand that followers are not more important than facts.
Every commentator must recognize that credibility is built on truth, not sensationalism.
And every social media user must learn the discipline of verification.
Before forwarding that message, verify it.
Before sharing that video, investigate it.
Before believing that story, check the source.
Before condemning someone, seek the facts.
The speed of social media should never replace the responsibility of critical thinking.
One reason RCCG has consistently encouraged people to rely on its official communication channels is because misinformation thrives where verification is absent. Every credible institution has designated channels through which its official positions are communicated.
Rumors should never be treated as facts.
Speculation should never be mistaken for truth.
Assumptions should never replace evidence.
The responsibility, however, does not belong only to institutions. It belongs to all of us.
False narratives survive because people consume them.
Misinformation spreads because people share it.
Sensational stories trend because audiences reward them with attention.
If we truly desire a healthier society, we must become more responsible consumers of information.
We must learn to pause before reacting.
We must learn to verify before sharing.
We must learn to think before concluding.
Most importantly, we must learn to value truth above trends.
History has repeatedly shown that popularity built on falsehood does not last. People may gain temporary attention through deception, but credibility built over many years can never be replaced by a few moments of online fame.
In the end, the truth always outlives the trend.
The hashtags will disappear.
The viral videos will be forgotten.
The controversies will eventually fade away.
But the truth will remain.
As for Pastor E.A. Adeboye and RCCG, they should continue to be evaluated on the basis of facts, documented impact, proven contributions, and verifiable records—not on the noise generated by those seeking relevance through controversy.
The church deserves fairness.
The public deserves truth.
The media deserves credibility.
And society deserves better than false narratives manufactured for cheap popularity.
So, as we navigate this information-driven age, let us all remember a simple principle that can save us from many errors:
Verify before you believe.
Fact-check before you publish.
Think before you share.
Because truth is too precious to be sacrificed on the altar of cheap popularity.
*Pastor Odesola is Continental Overseer for Continent 3 (South West, Nigeria & Middle East) in the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Click link to follow our WhatsApp channel:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaH43zJGJP88wNggvZ16
0
