Abuja – “Many of the challenges facing our nation require collaboration. Religious communities, traditional institutions, civil society, the private sector and citizens all have indispensable roles to play in promoting peace, strengthening social cohesion and advancing national development.”
These were the words of George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and a close advisor to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
With this statement, the Presidency is trying to defuse tensions that arose following statements made by Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, after a meeting between a delegation of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria and the President held at the end of July .
Cardinal Onaiyekan, who was part of the delegation, stated in a television interview broadcast on July 31 that, given the dramatic picture of the country’s social and economic situation presented by the bishops, the president had clearly indicated that he did not share their assessment.
The Cardinal added that, in his opinion, the presidential team was not providing the head of state with an accurate picture of the reality experienced by ordinary citizens. “We knew that what the bishops had revealed was different from the kind of information our president continues to receive from the people he meets,” the Cardinal declared.
His remarks drew criticism from two presidential advisors, who described them as inappropriate and argued that they breached the confidentiality expected of high-level meetings.
One of the advisors went further, alleging that the Catholic Church had openly supported Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi during the 2023 general elections, and argued that the Cardinal’s comments should be viewed in that political context.
On August 3, the Catholic Lay Council of Nigeria came to Cardinal Onaiyekan’s defence. In a statement, the Council rejected the Presidency’s accusation of a “breach of trust,” arguing that the Cardinal was simply fulfilling the Church’s mission by serving as a moral voice in the corridors of power.
Regarding the confidentiality of the meeting between the President and the bishops, the CLCN stated that “issues affecting the lives, well-being and future of more than 200 million Nigerians cannot remain permanently confined behind closed doors,” particularly when they concern the economy, security and justice, matters that have a direct impact on the lives of the population.
Senator Orji Kalu, a member of the All Progressives Congress , President Tinubu’s party, also commented on the matter. Kalu declared that he would leave the party if the head of state were to disrespect the Catholic Church. However, he clarified that he does not believe Tinubu has adopted such an attitude, arguing that the statements of presidential aides should not be confused with the President’s personal position.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.