Tinubu Dismisses Bishops' Economic Concerns in Meeting

During a meeting on July 28 at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Archbishop Emeritus John Onaiyekan disclosed that President Bola Tinubu rejected the concerns raised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) about the poor state of the economy and security. Onaiyekan stated that the bishops expressed the hardships facing Nigerians, but Tinubu insisted that the economy was performing well and disagreed with their assessment.

The archbishop emphasized that the bishops did not expect immediate agreement from the President but aimed to convey the realities faced by ordinary Nigerians. He noted that their message reflected the collective position of the CBCN after extensive consultations.

Onaiyekan also highlighted the lack of truth-telling within the government as a significant challenge. He defended the bishops' stance against a one-party dominant state and called for electoral reforms to enhance public confidence in the electoral process, questioning the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) due to its leadership being appointed by the President.