The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Sunday said British-Nigerian boxing champion Anthony Joshua survived a fatal auto crash by “the mercy of God.” Adeboye spoke during RCCG’s monthly thanksgiving service, using Joshua’s accident on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway as a reference point while teaching on divine preservation. Joshua’s Lexus SUV crashed on the busy highway last Monday, killing two of his friends — Ayodele Kelvin and Gami Sina, both 36 — while others sustained injuries. Adeboye said survival in life-threatening situations is not a function of intelligence, quoting scripture to back his point: “We are alive because of the mercies of the Lord, not because of cleverness.”
The cleric also referenced media reports that Joshua had swapped seats with someone before the accident, a decision he said made the difference between life and death. “I read in the newspapers yesterday that our boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, exchanged seats with someone before the accident. The people he exchanged seats with died. I don’t know why, but the mercy of God said someone would still be alive today,” Adeboye said, leaving the quotes intact. He further stressed the personal nature of God’s mercy, drawing examples from David’s Psalms to underline individual preservation. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want, it is personal… I want you to take this message personally… I am talking to myself,” he added. The Diocese, security agencies and Joshua’s camp are yet to release additional official details on the injured survivors.