John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, has called on the administration of President Bola Tinubu to improve its governance, declaring that Catholic bishops have concluded their public commentary on the matter. Speaking during an interview on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ogun State, the cleric chose not to address recent criticisms directed at the clergy by the presidency.
The tension follows a recent meeting at the State House between President Tinubu and members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, during which the religious leaders presented their analysis of the nation’s security and economic status. Cardinal Onaiyekan emphasized that the conference has no desire to enter into a public feud with government representatives.
He further clarified that the bishops were not representing narrow religious interests but were fulfilling a spiritual obligation to advocate for all citizens. Regarding the backlash from government supporters, the Cardinal stated that he would not offer a rebuttal, noting that the public response across social media platforms already reflects the sentiments of the Nigerian populace.
