The Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has declined to respond to criticisms from the Presidency following a high-level meeting between Catholic bishops and President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking during a radio current affairs programme in Ogun State on Monday, Onaiyekan insisted that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) had no intention of engaging in a public spat with government spokespersons, noting that their primary concern is whether their message influences actual governance.
The latest remarks follow an exchange sparked after the bishops met the President at the State House in Abuja on July 28, 2026, to present a candid assessment of the nation’s economy and security.
Rejecting suggestions that the clergy spoke solely for Catholics, Onaiyekan emphasized that their intervention stemmed from a moral duty to all citizens. “We didn’t go there just as Catholic bishops pushing the Catholic agenda. No. We went there as people who are with the spiritual mandate to speak to anybody in the name of God,” he stated.
Addressing the Presidency’s subsequent reactions, the Cardinal made it clear that he would not dignify the controversy with a response. “I would not even answer that question. We have no response for them. We have spoken and the only response we are waiting for is whether it is affecting the way they are governing,” Onaiyekan asserted.
He added that the overwhelming public reaction on social media serves as more than enough commentary on the state of affairs, leaving government spokespersons to manage their own narratives.
Explaining the context of the visit, Onaiyekan revealed that the audience was secured after months of patient waiting and was never intended as an evangelistic mission. “We didn’t go there to preach to him and try to see whether we could convert him to our Catholic Church, but we went there to share our views and thoughts about the government which he heads, hoping that our ideas will be taken into consideration,” he explained.
Expressing hope for future dialogue, the Cardinal noted that the bishops are looking forward to a more detailed conversation where they can expand on the concerns briefly touched upon during their ten-minute presentation.
Shifting focus to pressing national issues, Onaiyekan maintained that the clergy harbor no partisan political ambitions and challenged the government to prioritize substance over rhetoric.
Commenting on the state of the economy, he argued that government success should be measured by the lived realities of citizens rather than abstract figures. “If we admit that the role of government is the welfare of citizens, then it means we are not going to judge the success of our government on the basis of the statistics from GDP, from the World Bank, or whatever. The important thing is, how is the life of the Nigerian?” he queried.
Highlighting youth unemployment as one of the nation’s gravest crises, the Cardinal warned of mounting frustration among university graduates unable to secure jobs or build stable futures.
He concluded by calling for a unified front among religious leaders across Nigeria to engage the administration collectively. “It would be wonderful if we could organise a meeting with Mr. President and all the religious leaders in Nigeria, talking together,” Onaiyekan said, stressing that political will and honesty are vital to steering the country in the right direction.
