John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, has openly disagreed with President Bola Tinubu regarding the notion that morality does not apply to political competition. During a recent interview on Arise Television, Onaiyekan argued that the president’s assertion that all is fair in politics is fundamentally flawed.
This remark follows a meeting between the president and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria at the Presidential Villa. During that session, Tinubu had stated that political processes are equitable, claimed the Independent National Electoral Commission remains neutral, and dismissed complaints from opponents as unfounded.
Onaiyekan countered this perspective by emphasizing that ethical standards must govern political actions. He warned that treating electoral victory as an outcome that justifies any means is dangerous. Furthermore, the Cardinal suggested that President Tinubu may be insulated from the true extent of the nation’s economic distress due to a lack of candid feedback from his inner circle.
