The Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has issued a blunt message to the administration of President Bola Tinubu: govern better, because the Catholic Bishops are done talking. The cleric made this statement during an interview on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, where he declined to respond to criticisms from the Presidency.
The remark follows a public exchange between the Presidency and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) after the bishops met with President Tinubu at the State House in Abuja to present their assessment of the country’s economy and security situation.
No Intention of Public Exchange
According to Cardinal Onaiyekan, the CBCN had no intention of engaging in a public spat with government spokespersons following their recent audience with the President. He stressed that the bishops’ intervention was rooted in a moral duty to speak for all Nigerians, not just Catholics.
“We are done talking. You can govern better. 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 said.
Onaiyekan dismissed the responses from government supporters and spokespersons, saying their opinions are not his concern. He added: “That some of the supporters of government and the state and spokesperson may have their own idea about what they think they should be saying on behalf of their principal, is their business, not mine.”
Social Media as the People’s Response
When asked about the Presidency’s criticisms, the Cardinal pointed to social media as the true barometer of public opinion. “As for response to the things we are hearing, I don’t even have to say anything because the social media is full of response from Nigerian people and that for me is more than enough,” he said.
The exchange highlights growing tension between religious leaders and the government over the handling of economic and security challenges. The bishops’ meeting with President Tinubu was part of a broader effort to convey the concerns of Nigerians, reflecting the moral authority they claim in speaking truth to power.
Cardinal Onaiyekan’s comments underscore a sentiment among many Nigerians that dialogue must translate into tangible improvements in governance. As the nation faces mounting economic pressures and security threats, the call for effective leadership resonates beyond religious circles.
