Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, recently disclosed that President Bola Tinubu brushed aside the grievances brought forward by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria during their official visit to the State House. Speaking on Arise Television, Onaiyekan noted that the clergy felt a moral obligation to contrast the nation’s actual hardship with the overly optimistic reports the president typically receives from his associates.
During the session, President Tinubu stood by the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission and claimed the economy was flourishing. Onaiyekan expressed that he was unsurprised by the president’s defensive reaction to their warnings about the country’s dire state. The Cardinal maintained that while the bishops’ assessment was unwelcome, it was essential to provide the leader with an honest reflection of the challenges facing citizens rather than painting an inaccurate picture.
