Peter Obi, the former presidential candidate for the Labour Party, has spoken out against the Federal Government’s dismissive reaction to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria. He is calling on President Bola Tinubu to treat these religious leaders as partners in development rather than political adversaries.
In a statement released through his spokesperson Idris Zekeri, Obi emphasized that the Catholic Church acts as a moral compass for the nation. He pointed out that major religious bodies like CAN, NSCIA, and JNI have also voiced alarms regarding Nigeria’s ongoing security and economic crises. According to Obi, the government’s tendency to view legitimate criticism as hostility is detrimental to national progress.
Reflecting on his time as governor of Anambra State, Obi noted that listening to critics allowed him to better address gaps in the education and healthcare sectors. He contrasted this with the current climate, where public officials target figures like Cardinal John Onaiyekan for speaking on governance.
Obi also highlighted the irony of the government engaging with the Vatican while simultaneously attacking local bishops. He stressed that issues like inflation and poverty touch every citizen, and therefore, the insights provided by faith leaders should be utilized to better align policy with the realities on the ground.
