Onaiyekan Critiques Tinubu's Optimism on Nigeria's State

Cardinal John Onaiyekan expressed concerns regarding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration during the ‘Prime Time’ programme on Arise Television. He stated that the president's close aides were providing him with a misleadingly positive view of the country, which does not reflect the realities faced by many Nigerians.

Onaiyekan's remarks followed a meeting between the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), led by President Matthew Ndagoso, and Tinubu at the State House in Abuja. During this meeting, Ndagoso presented the bishops' address, highlighting their worries about the nation's challenges.

Tinubu defended his administration's performance, claiming the economy was stabilizing and that the era of prolonged strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had ended. Onaiyekan noted that the bishops' serious message about the country's economic struggles was met with disagreement from Tinubu, who insisted that the country was not "bleeding" and that the economy was "doing fine." The cardinal also raised concerns about the upcoming 2027 elections.