Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who represents Abia North in the National Assembly, has declared that the economic hardship and insecurity currently troubling Nigeria cannot be blamed on President Bola Tinubu. Instead, he argues, the President has been fed a distorted picture of the country by politicians who are unwilling to tell him the truth.
Kalu, a former governor of Abia State and a leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southeast, made the remarks in a video that has since gone viral. His comments came in response to the recent meeting between President Tinubu and members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
During that meeting, the bishops raised concerns about the state of the economy, the worsening security situation, and the political climate in Nigeria. They urged the President to take urgent action to address the suffering of ordinary people.
The visit followed months of growing public discontent over rising living costs and persistent security threats. Many Nigerians have been calling on the government to do more, and the Catholic bishops added their voice to those demands.
Kalu Defends Tinubu Over Hardship
Despite acknowledging the difficulties citizens face daily, Kalu stopped short of holding Tinubu responsible for the nation's problems. He asserted that the President is not the cause of the hardship and that the systemic issues go deeper than the current administration.
"The Catholic bishops are aware of the situation in the country. There are real difficulties in Nigeria, but they are not President Tinubu's fault," Kalu said in the viral video.
He also insisted that the bishops' intervention was both timely and necessary, saying it provided the President with a clearer understanding of what Nigerians are going through.
Catholic Bishops as the Nation's Conscience
Kalu praised the Catholic bishops for their courage and honesty, describing them as a moral compass for the country. He noted that their counsel was always offered in the national interest, regardless of which political party is in power.
"The Catholic bishops are the conscience of the country and once they give advice, their advice is not for or against; it's just for any sitting President to see things the way it should be," he said.
He also welcomed their decision to speak directly to Tinubu, saying it was a positive step toward transparency and accountability. "The Catholic bishops' visit to President Tinubu is a good one. I support it because they are telling him the way it is," he added.
Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, had earlier revealed that Tinubu pushed back on the bishops' assessment during the meeting. The President reportedly maintained that his administration was on the right track, a stance that has sparked further debate among Nigerians.
Politicians Accused of Hiding the Truth
Kalu reserved his sharpest criticism for his fellow politicians, alleging that they have been shielding the President from the truth about conditions on the ground. He said politicians often paint a rosy picture of the country to stay in the good graces of the administration.
"It promotes the President to work harder because the Catholic bishops are just telling him the way it is. Even if politicians are lying to him that things are good everywhere, they can never say that," Kalu said.
He continued: "Even if we politicians can lie to him, the bishops will tell him the truth about the current reality of the country."
These comments come at a time when Nigeria is facing its worst economic crisis in years, with inflation eroding purchasing power and security incidents becoming a daily occurrence in many parts of the country.
Fallout: Atiku Criticises Presidency's Response
The bishops' visit and the subsequent reaction from the Presidency have also drawn criticism from political figures. Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the last election, publicly criticised the Presidency for its response to Cardinal Onaiyekan and the Catholic bishops.
Atiku, a former Vice President of Nigeria, warned that Tinubu's administration's growing intolerance of dissent poses a serious threat to Nigeria's democracy. He argued that the government should listen to the concerns of religious leaders rather than attacking them for speaking out.
The Presidency's handling of the bishops' suggestions has therefore become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate about the direction of the country. While Kalu defends the President and blames politicians for misinformation, others see the bishops' visit as a necessary wake-up call.
For Kalu, however, the solution lies in ensuring that the President receives accurate information. He believes that the bishops have done the nation a service by speaking truth to power, and that their advice should prompt the government to work even harder to address the challenges facing Nigerians.
As the country continues to grapple with economic hardship and security threats, the role of religious leaders and political figures like Kalu in shaping the narrative remains crucial. Whether the President's policies will ultimately ease the burden on citizens is a question that only time can answer.
But one thing is clear: the Catholic bishops have made their voice heard, and their message has resonated with many who feel the government is out of touch with the reality on the ground.
