Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, has responded forcefully to criticism from the Presidency over his public disclosure of details from the Catholic bishops' meeting with President Bola Tinubu on July 28, 2026. The 82-year-old cleric affirmed that he spoke on behalf of all Nigerian Catholic bishops, not in a personal capacity, and declared that he cannot be embarrassed or intimidated at his age.
Onaiyekan Stands by His Account of the Meeting
In a video shared by SYMFONI TV on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, Cardinal Onaiyekan addressed the Presidency's reaction to his account of the engagement. The Presidency had described his disclosure of the meeting details as inappropriate, calling it a private engagement. Onaiyekan, however, stood firm in his position.
"I didn't go to Arise to please the government, or to just please people, but to tell the truth. That's all I stand for," Onaiyekan said, according to The Punch. He further stated: "I cannot be embarrassed. I'm 82 years old; nobody can embarrass me. And I'm not afraid of anybody. Nobody, at this stage now, are they going to arrest me, carry me to where?"
Onaiyekan Says He Spoke for All Nigerian Catholic Bishops
According to the Nigerian Tribune, the cardinal made it clear that his comments on Arise TV were not his personal views but reflected a collective position agreed upon by the bishops who attended the meeting with President Tinubu. He emphasized that the statement he delivered was a unified message from the Catholic bishops of Nigeria.
"I didn't talk on my own now. I spoke on behalf of my fellow bishops. We drafted a statement which contained all that I said in the interview. So, all the bishops of Nigeria spoke that way. It was their voice I was echoing," Onaiyekan explained.
Onaiyekan also highlighted the broader importance of religious leaders being free to criticize those in power, noting that such freedoms are absent in several African countries. "We are still lucky in this Nigeria that we can still talk. We shouldn't take that for granted. There are many countries in Africa where no bishop dares to talk like we do here," he said.
Regarding the condition of ordinary Nigerians, Onaiyekan said other religious leaders share the bishops' concerns. "When it comes to what is happening to Nigeria, the poverty, the suffering, we are all in the same boat now," he added.
Wike Hits Back at Cardinal Onaiyekan
Recall that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, fired back at Cardinal Onaiyekan after the cleric made comments about Tinubu's government. Wike questioned the credibility of religious leaders who openly back political candidates and then offer public commentary. The minister made the remarks at his monthly media chat in Abuja on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.
Atiku Hits Tinubu Over Attack on Onaiyekan
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Atiku Abubakar condemned the Presidency for attacking Cardinal John Onaiyekan after the cleric spoke to the press about his meeting with Tinubu. Atiku's aide, Phrank Shaibu, issued a statement on August 2, 2026, calling the Presidency's language unbecoming of a government. Atiku urged the Presidency to apologise to the Catholic Church and demanded it address the substance of the bishops' message rather than attack the messengers.
