Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has publicly condemned the administration of President Bola Tinubu for its hostile reaction to Cardinal John Onaiyekan and the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria. The former Vice President warned that the Presidency’s language and tactics were unbecoming of a government and that its growing intolerance of dissent poses a direct threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
Presidency’s Attack Called Unfortunate and Dangerous
In a statement issued on Sunday, August 2, 2026, Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the Presidency chose to ridicule and politically attack the clerics rather than reflect on the substance of their message, describing the approach as “both unfortunate and dangerous.”
The statement noted that the Catholic Church has for generations served as one of Nigeria’s moral voices, with its bishops speaking consistently for the poor and vulnerable, irrespective of who holds political power. The bishops, Atiku said, had shown rare courage by looking the President in the eye and telling him the bitter truth about the state of the nation.
“That is precisely what patriotic religious leaders are called to do — not to decorate power with praise, but to confront it with truth,” the statement read.
Arrogance and Contempt for the Cardinal and the Faithful
Atiku described the language directed at Cardinal Onaiyekan — a figure he called “a respected voice, elder statesman and beacon of truth within the Catholic Church” — as sheer arrogance and a display of contempt for the millions of Nigerians who hold the Cardinal in high esteem.
The ADC flag bearer also accused the Presidency’s media team of attempting to selectively edit and reframe the bishops’ engagement with the President in order to push a narrative favourable to the government. He labelled the actions as “an affront to the integrity, credibility and moral authority of the bishops.”
Wielding Power Over Honest Voices
Atiku argued that a government confident in its record would welcome criticism rather than go to war against honest voices. He added: “Perhaps the Presidency has become so accustomed to inviting ‘fake bishops’ that it now assumes every cleric can be recruited into political propaganda. But Catholic bishops are different. They are not political props, rented cheerleaders or praise singers.”
The former Vice President called for an immediate and unreserved apology from the Presidency to the Catholic Church, Cardinal Onaiyekan, and the entire Catholic faithful. He stressed that the attack was not just against individuals, but against one of Nigeria’s most credible moral institutions.
Religious Leaders Asked to Follow the Example
He also charged religious leaders of all denominations to emulate the Catholic Bishops and speak truth to power whenever the nation’s interest so demands. He reiterated that the Tinubu administration’s increasing intolerance of criticism could erode democratic structures.
The statement comes in the wake of Cardinal Onaiyekan’s public disclosure that President Tinubu directly pushed back on concerns raised during their July 28 meeting at the State House. The Archbishop Emeritus said Tinubu was visibly unhappy and warned that too few people around the President were willing to tell him the truth.
Onaiyekan’s Concerns Beyond the Meeting
During that meeting, the Cardinal also raised concerns about the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and commented on the forthcoming Osun governorship election and the National Peace Committee. His remarks after the meeting appear to have provoked the Presidency’s sharp reaction, which Atiku has now condemned.
Timi Frank Joins the Fray
Separately, former All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Timi Frank has also defended the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria for challenging President Tinubu on the economy. Frank criticised some Pentecostal leaders, alleging they visit the Presidential Villa and return with “envelopes” instead of speaking the truth.
He called on Muslim and Christian leaders to tell Tinubu he has failed and to urge him not to seek a second term in 2027. The episode underscores the widening rift between the current administration and trusted moral institutions as the country inches closer to the next presidential election.
