Former Minister of Transportation and African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Rotimi Amaechi, has strongly defended Catholic Cardinal John Onaiyekan against allegations that his criticism of President Bola Tinubu's administration was politically motivated. In an interview with Channels TV on Tuesday night, August 4, Amaechi asserted that the Presidency would not have reacted the same way if the Sultan of Sokoto had made similar remarks about the state of the nation.
Amaechi Claims Religious Bias in Presidency's Response
Speaking on Channels TV, Amaechi argued that the treatment meted out to Cardinal Onaiyekan reflects a religious bias. He pointed out that Muslim leaders have made similar critical statements without facing the same level of backlash. "They wouldn't have insulted him (the Sultan). Today, in the mosque, people are preaching about what is happening in the government. Are they being insulted? We are being insulted because we are Christians," Amaechi said.
Amaechi clarified that the former Archbishop of Abuja was not backing any political party or candidate but was speaking out over the hardship, poverty, and corruption confronting Nigerians. He emphasized that the Cardinal's concerns are genuine and deeply felt.
Cardinal's Motivations: Concern for the Nation, Not Politics
"He supports nobody. I see Cardinal Onaiyekan regularly. I worship in his private chapel. Cardinal Onaiyekan himself supports nobody. I have had several conversations with him. The only thing that pains him is the level of indiscretion and poverty in the country and corruption. He worries about that," Amaechi said.
Rejecting claims that the Cardinal's comments were politically motivated, Amaechi argued that Onaiyekan merely expressed genuine concerns about the state of the nation. "I just think that they tried to intimidate him, because election is very far away, so they are trying to intimidate him the way they are trying to intimidate the population," he said.
Religious Leaders' Duty to Speak Out
Amaechi maintained that the cleric had done nothing wrong by speaking publicly and insisted that religious leaders have a duty to hold governments accountable whenever they believe the citizens are suffering. He stressed that the Cardinal's remarks were a reflection of the widespread discontent among Nigerians over economic hardship and corruption.
The interview has sparked reactions on social media, with many Nigerians debating the role of religious leaders in political discourse. Amaechi's comments highlight the ongoing tensions between the government and religious institutions, as well as the perceived differential treatment of Christian and Muslim leaders.
Watch a clip of Amaechi speaking below:
[Video embedded from Instagram]
