The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has voiced its full support for Cardinal John Onaiyekan and the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) after presidential aides criticized the cleric’s remarks on the nation’s security and economic struggles. National Spokesman Luka Binniyat stated that the backlash against the Cardinal was unwarranted and misdirected.
Cardinal Onaiyekan had previously suggested that President Bola Tinubu might not be receiving a true picture of the struggles faced by average citizens. The MBF noted that the Cardinal’s input was a vital contribution from a religious leader intended to serve the public interest. The group explicitly urged the President to look past political framing and conduct a personal assessment of the lives of displaced people, farmers, and the unemployed.
Furthermore, the MBF highlighted that insecurity remains a major barrier to livelihoods across the Middle Belt region. Despite military efforts, the organization stated that violence continues to devastate farming and business stability. Economically, the forum pointed out that inflation and the devaluation of the naira have severely weakened the impact of wage increases, making basic costs for fuel, food, and medicine unsustainable for households. The MBF concluded by encouraging the President to embrace honest feedback as a necessary step for national progress.
