By News Desk
ABUJA, Nigeria — The Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has pushed back against criticisms from the Presidency following his recent media comments regarding a high-level meeting between Catholic bishops and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja in response to pushback from government officials and social media critics, the 82-year-old cleric maintained that his intentions on national television were strictly driven by a duty to state the truth regarding the socio-economic conditions facing ordinary citizens.
Refusal to Back Down
Addressing the controversy sparked by his appearance on Arise News, Cardinal Onaiyekan dismissed suggestions that the administration’s official rebuke or social media backlash would intimidate or embarrass him.
The senior prelate emphasized several key points during his interaction:
- Duty to Truth: Onaiyekan insisted that his television appearance was not meant to curry favor with the government or appease critics, but to present an unvarnished assessment of the national situation.
- Dismissal of Intimidation: Pointing to his age, the cardinal declared that he fears no political reprisal, questioning what action could possibly be taken against an 82-year-old elder statesman for speaking out.
- Public Support: He declined to address online critics individually, noting that ordinary Nigerians had already come to his defense and validated the concerns raised by the church leadership.
- Protection of Free Expression: Onaiyekan urged citizens not to take civic freedoms for granted, observing that religious leaders in many other African nations do not enjoy the liberty to critique state authorities openly.
Origins of the Strained Engagement
The disagreement stems from a July 28 meeting at the Presidential Villa, where a delegation from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) presented President Tinubu with a document highlighting national economic hardships, security challenges, and public distress.
Following the closed-door session, Onaiyekan granted a televised interview detailing the discussion, during which he suggested that presidential aides might be shielding the President from the daily struggles of average Nigerians.
The Presidency subsequently issued a formal response accusing the retired archbishop of violating clerical discretion and misrepresenting the President’s detailed explanation of ongoing macroeconomic reforms. Onaiyekan clarified that his broadcast comments reflected the collective position officially drafted by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference rather than a personal opinion.
