Bishops' Meeting with Tinubu Sparks Controversy Over Comments

On Thursday, Archbishop Matthew Ndagoso, leading the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), met with President Bola Tinubu to address pressing issues such as insecurity, economic hardship, and the state of democracy in Nigeria. Cardinal John Onaiyekan, part of the delegation, stated that the bishops presented a position paper reflecting their collective concerns after extensive discussions.

He noted that the bishops expressed worries about worsening hardship and insecurity, but President Tinubu disagreed, asserting that his administration was making progress. Onaiyekan suggested that the President's advisors might not be providing an accurate picture of the realities faced by ordinary Nigerians.

Following his comments, presidential aides Temitope Ajayi and Daniel Bwala criticized Onaiyekan's remarks as inappropriate and politically motivated, referencing the Catholic Church's support for Labour Party candidate Peter Obi in the 2023 elections. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar condemned the Tinubu administration's response as intolerant of dissent.