The Presidency has criticised representatives of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) over comments made after their recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
It insisted that the clerics do not have the exclusive authority to define the country’s realities. The Presidency also faulted the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, for publicly discussing what transpired during the closed-door meeting.
It described the action as inappropriate and inconsistent with the confidentiality expected of such high-level engagements.
Presidency defends Tinubu
In separate statements issued on Saturday, presidential aides Temitope Ajayi and Daniel Bwala defended Tinubu’s response to the bishops’ assessment of his administration. They argued that the clerics expressed only one perspective on the country’s situation.
According to them, that assessment can be challenged with facts and evidence. The reaction followed Onaiyekan’s interview on Prime Time on Arise Television. During the programme, he discussed the meeting between President Tinubu and a delegation of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference held at the Presidential Villa on July 28.
Onaiyekan says bishops spoke for Nigerians
During the interview, the cardinal said the bishops raised concerns about economic hardship, insecurity and the state of democracy in Nigeria. However, he said the President rejected their assessment and insisted that his administration was making progress.
Onaiyekan explained that the presentation reflected the collective position of the bishops. He added that it was prepared after extensive consultations rather than representing the opinion of only a few individuals.
“Let me say first and foremost that that statement read by our president was not just put together at random. It was carefully considered and with wide consultation… So it was not done at random, nor did we deliver it with levity.”
The cardinal also said the bishops had no political ambition. Instead, he said they considered it their moral duty to speak honestly about the realities confronting Nigerians.
“We are, first and foremost, religious leaders who feel we have a duty—not just to preach our religious doctrines, but also to address the lives of our people.”
According to him, the delegation deliberately presented what it believed reflected the true situation across the country. He said the bishops chose not to present the President with a flattering assessment.
“When the nation is bleeding, you cannot expect a polite meeting with the head of state. We told him the economy is not helping our poor people; he told us the economy is doing fine.”
Onaiyekan further stated that Tinubu appeared unhappy with the observations made during the meeting. He attributed the President’s reaction to the difference between the bishops’ assessment and the reports he normally receives.
Ajayi rejects bishops’ assessment
Responding to the interview, Ajayi criticised the bishops for paying little attention to what he described as the achievements of the Tinubu administration. He said the bishops freely expressed their views during the meeting. According to Ajayi, the President listened patiently before responding with what he considered factual information.
“Their assessment is neither scripture nor an article of faith. It is a perspective, and perspectives can be challenged with facts and evidence.”
Ajayi argued that improvements in the regular payment of salaries and pensions should not be ignored. He said those gains remain significant even though many challenges still exist. He also maintained that Tinubu acknowledged the country’s economic and security difficulties.
At the same time, he said the President highlighted measurable progress recorded by his administration. According to Ajayi, Tinubu receives intelligence briefings every day and consults multiple sources of information. He therefore dismissed suggestions that only the Catholic bishops could present the President with the truth about Nigeria.
Bwala alleges political bias
Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, also criticised Onaiyekan’s remarks. He alleged that the Catholic Church supported Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi during the 2023 election.
Bwala argued that the cardinal’s comments should therefore be viewed within that political context. He also accused the cleric of applying double standards.
According to Bwala, Onaiyekan criticised the government’s optimistic assessment of the economy while encouraging believers to make positive confessions despite difficult circumstances. He further insisted that the Christian community extends beyond the Catholic Bishops’ Conference. He added that many Christian organisations had remained politically neutral.
Kukah declines comment
When contacted, the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah, declined to comment further on the meeting. Kukah, who was part of the delegation, simply said he had no additional remarks to make.
Meanwhile, the Lagos Central Senatorial candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Ladipo Johnson, criticised Tinubu’s suggestion that Nigerians facing hardship should seek assistance from churches. Johnson described the President’s remarks as disappointing.
He also accused Tinubu of failing to provide leadership on the country’s economic challenges. According to him, the response showed insufficient empathy for Nigerians struggling with inflation, rising food prices and declining purchasing power.
Read also: Onaiyekan says Tinubu rejected Catholic bishops’ concerns over Nigeria
