Cardinal Onaiyekan's Interview Criticized as Clerical Abuse

Cardinal John Onaiyekan's decision to grant a television interview to discuss the private meeting between the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria and President Bola Tinubu has been labeled an abuse of clerical privilege. During the meeting, the bishops presented a list of Nigeria's economic, social, and security challenges.

President Tinubu listened and responded point by point, arguing that the bishops' assessment was incomplete and inaccurate. He highlighted measurable progress in various sectors while acknowledging ongoing challenges.

The bishops' request for the return of schools to their owners surprised the president, who stated it was a matter for the states to resolve. He reminded them of his previous actions as governor regarding mission schools in Lagos State.

Tinubu emphasized that governing a nation involves making difficult choices among competing interests and limited resources, and that no president can resolve Nigeria's issues overnight.