Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has dismissed criticisms from the Presidency over the recent engagement between President Bola Tinubu and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), saying the bishops have said all they needed to say, and are now waiting to see whether their message will influence governance.
Speaking during an interview during a radio programme, the cardinal said the Catholic bishops would not be dragged into a public exchange with presidential aides, stressing that their responsibility was to present the realities facing Nigerians to the President. “I would not even answer that question. We have no response for them. We have spoken; and the only response we are waiting for is whether it is affecting the way they are governing”, Onaiyekan said.
His remarks followed criticisms from the Presidency after he spoke publicly about the recent closed-door meeting between President Tinubu and members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Onaiyekan had earlier disclosed that the bishops used the meeting to present what they described as the harsh realities confronting Nigerians, including widespread economic hardship, rising cost of living, insecurity, unemployment and growing poverty.
According to the cleric, the bishops considered it their moral duty to give the President an honest assessment of the country’s situation instead of offering flattering remarks. He also revealed that President Tinubu appeared uncomfortable with some of the observations raised during the meeting, but defended his administration’s economic reforms, insisting they were beginning to produce positive outcomes and would eventually deliver lasting benefits.
The Cardinal’s comments drew a swift response from the Presidency. Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, faulted Onaiyekan’s remarks, alleging that the cleric was speaking for Catholics aligned with opposition politics rather than the Christian community as a whole. Bwala also defended the Tinubu administration’s policies, maintaining that the government remained committed to addressing the country’s economic and security challenges.
However, Onaiyekan declined to respond directly to the presidential aide, insisting that the bishops were not interested in trading words with government officials. He said the Catholic Church had fulfilled its responsibility by speaking frankly to the President and that the only response the bishops expected was improved governance and policies that would positively impact the lives of Nigerians.
The Archbishop Emeritus reiterated that the Church has a duty to speak truth to those in authority, regardless of political considerations, adding that the bishops would continue to advocate for justice, accountability and good governance whenever necessary.
The exchange has continued to generate reactions across the country, with several political figures and civil society groups defending the cardinal’s position.
Despite the controversy, Onaiyekan maintained that the bishops have moved on from the debate, saying their concern is not the criticism from the Presidency but whether the Federal Government will act on the issues affecting millions of Nigerians.
