Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress, has denounced the current administration for its response to Cardinal John Onaiyekan and the Catholic Church. According to a statement from his aide, Phrank Shaibu, the government’s hostile reaction highlights an increasing inability to handle criticism or objective truths.
The statement emphasized that the Catholic Church holds a long-standing role as a moral authority, tasked with representing the underprivileged rather than praising political leadership. By targeting Cardinal Onaiyekan, the administration displayed arrogance that disrespected both the institution and the citizens who value his leadership.
Atiku argued that the Presidency’s media team attempted to manipulate the narrative surrounding the bishops’ recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu to appear more favorable to the government. When Cardinal Onaiyekan sought to clarify the facts, he was met with unprofessional insults from government spokespeople. Atiku concluded that such aggressive behavior serves only to mask the administration’s lack of substantive arguments and its intolerance for those who decline to offer blind support.
