Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has faulted the Presidency over its reaction to remarks by Cardinal John Onaiyekan, accusing the administration of attacking the Catholic Church instead of addressing the concerns raised by the cleric.
Key Highlights:
- Atiku faulted the Presidency for attacking Cardinal Onaiyekan instead of addressing economic concerns.
- He defended the Catholic bishops’ right to speak truth to power.
- Atiku accused the Presidency of politicizing the bishops’ remarks.
- He said the cleric only highlighted Nigerians’ economic hardship.
- Atiku demanded an apology to the Catholic Church and Cardinal Onaiyekan.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the Tinubu administration chose intimidation and political attacks rather than reflecting on the message delivered by the Catholic bishops.
The controversy followed comments by Cardinal Onaiyekan, who disclosed that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) told President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a recent meeting that worsening economic conditions were placing greater hardship on poor Nigerians.
He also claimed the President and some government officials appeared displeased with the bishops’ assessment.
Following the interview, the Presidency reportedly accused Onaiyekan and the Catholic Church of supporting Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Reacting, Atiku said the Presidency appeared to assume that all religious leaders could be swayed politically because it had become accustomed to dealing with what he described as “fake bishops.”
According to the former Vice President, Catholic bishops are guided by a moral obligation to speak truth to power and cannot be turned into political tools or praise singers for any government.
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He further accused the Tinubu administration of attempting to distort the bishops’ message by selectively presenting details of their meeting with the President in a manner favourable to the government.
Atiku maintained that Cardinal Onaiyekan merely highlighted the realities confronting millions of Nigerians, including widespread hunger, insecurity, unemployment and the rising cost of living, stressing that attacking the cleric would not erase those challenges.
He called on the Presidency to apologise to the Catholic Church, Cardinal Onaiyekan and Catholics across Nigeria, warning that failure to do so would reinforce allegations that the administration is intolerant of dissenting voices and constructive criticism.
