The Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, John Onaiyekan, has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu disagreed with concerns raised by members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria over the country’s economy, security situation and political climate during a recent meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Speaking during an interview on Prime Time, a programme aired on Arise News, Onaiyekan said the President rejected the bishops’ assessment, maintaining that his administration remained on the right path despite the challenges highlighted.
According to the cleric, the bishops used the meeting to present what they considered the realities confronting ordinary Nigerians, particularly the worsening economic conditions and insecurity affecting citizens across the country.
“When the nation is bleeding, you cannot expect a polite meeting with the Head of State. We told him the economy is not helping our poor people, but he insisted the economy is doing well. He made it clear that he did not agree with our position,” Onaiyekan said.
He noted that the bishops had anticipated the President might not accept their assessment but stressed that their responsibility was to speak truthfully on issues affecting the nation.
“We have fulfilled our duty by delivering our message. We hope that, in time, those around him will draw his attention to some of the issues we raised,” he added.
Onaiyekan explained that the position presented to Tinubu reflected the collective resolution of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference after broad consultations and was not influenced by political interests.
He emphasised that the bishops were not seeking elective offices but were committed to addressing issues affecting the welfare and wellbeing of Nigerians.
The former archbishop said the bishops deliberately avoided presenting an overly favourable picture of the country’s situation, adding that they were encouraged that the President listened and responded directly to the concerns raised.
He, however, expressed worry that many government officials were unwilling to provide the President with honest feedback on the country’s realities, describing the situation as a major challenge to effective governance.
On the nation’s political environment, Onaiyekan defended the bishops’ warning against the emergence of a dominant one party system, arguing that democracy can only thrive where elections are transparent and all political actors compete on an equal footing.
He also questioned public confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission, saying concerns about its neutrality would persist as long as its leadership continued to be appointed by the President.
The cleric called for electoral reforms to strengthen the credibility of the commission and urged Tinubu to safeguard Nigeria’s democratic institutions while placing greater emphasis on addressing the country’s economic and security challenges rather than celebrating government achievements.