By Peace Udugba
Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has dismissed criticisms from the Presidency following the Catholic Bishops’ recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu, insisting that the bishops have already delivered their message and are only interested in whether it will lead to better governance.
The latest exchange follows the meeting between the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and President Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on July 28, 2026, during which the bishops presented their assessment of Nigeria’s economy, security and governance.
Speaking in a television interview after the meeting, Onaiyekan disclosed that President Tinubu disagreed with the bishops’ assessment, maintaining that his administration’s economic reforms were producing positive results.
His comments drew criticism from presidential aides. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Daniel Bwala, argued that Onaiyekan spoke only for the Catholic Church and not for Christians generally. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga also rejected the bishops’ assessment, insisting that the administration’s policies were placing Nigeria on the path to economic recovery.
Similarly, Presidential Adviser Temitope Ajayi, in a statement titled “Cardinal Onaiyekan’s Abuse of Clerical Privilege,” faulted the cleric for publicly commenting on what he described as a closed-door meeting with the President.
However, speaking on Monday during Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, Onaiyekan said the bishops had no intention of engaging in a public war of words with government spokespersons.
He rejected claims that the bishops were speaking only for Catholics, stressing that their intervention was motivated by a moral obligation to all Nigerians.
“We didn’t go there just as Catholic bishops pushing the Catholic agenda. No. We went there as people who have the spiritual mandate to speak to anybody in the name of God,” he said.
Responding to questions about the Presidency’s reaction, the cardinal said the bishops had nothing more to say.
“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. That some of the supporters of government and spokespersons may have their own ideas about what they should be saying on behalf of their principal is their business, not mine.
“As for the things that we are hearing, I don’t even have to say anything because social media is full of responses from the Nigerian people, and for me, that is more than enough.”
Onaiyekan explained that the meeting with President Tinubu was initiated by the CBCN after several months of seeking an audience.
According to him, the visit was not intended to advance the interests of the Catholic Church or serve as an evangelistic mission, but to present concerns about governance and the welfare of Nigerians.
“We requested the audience. It took some months before we were granted the opportunity. We did not go there on an evangelical mission or to convert the President. We went there to share our views and thoughts about the government he heads, hoping our ideas would be taken into consideration,” he said.
The cardinal expressed hope that the engagement would not end with the initial meeting, urging the government to create another opportunity for a more detailed discussion.
“We are hoping that our meeting with the President did not end with that visit. We hope that somehow he will invite us again, or at least create an opportunity for us to present more of our concerns than we could express during the ten minutes we had.”
Onaiyekan also stressed that the bishops had no political ambitions and urged the government to focus on the substance of their message rather than the personalities delivering it.
“The document was prepared unanimously by the bishops of Nigeria. We have no political ambitions. Our Church does not even allow us to engage in partisan politics,” he said.
On the economy, the cardinal acknowledged improvements in macroeconomic indicators but argued that the true measure of governance should be the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians.
“If the role of government is the welfare of citizens, then we should not judge success only by GDP figures or reports from the World Bank. The important question is: how are Nigerians living?”
He described youth unemployment as one of Nigeria’s most pressing challenges, lamenting that many graduates remain unable to secure jobs or build stable futures.
“Many young people struggle through university only to graduate without jobs. They cannot think about marriage, raising families or planning their future. That is terrible,” he said.
Onaiyekan warned that growing frustration among young Nigerians could have serious consequences if left unaddressed.
He added that solving Nigeria’s problems requires political will, honesty and fairness rather than costly interventions.
“The only thing it takes is the political will to do the right thing, to be honest in the way government is run, and to be just and fair to everybody.”
The cleric also called for broader collaboration between religious leaders and the government, expressing hope that Christian and Muslim leaders would jointly engage the President on issues affecting Nigerians.
“We are hoping that our message will be shared by other religious leaders in Nigeria, including CAN and our Muslim leaders. It would be wonderful if all religious leaders could meet with the President and discuss the challenges facing our nation together,” he said.
