Middle Belt Forum Backs Onaiyekan on Economic Concerns

The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has expressed its support for Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria regarding their criticisms of Nigeria's economic and security situations. The MBF's statement, issued by National Spokesman Luka Binniyat, condemned the “unwarranted attacks” on Onaiyekan by some presidential aides and supporters, asserting that discussing poverty and insecurity should not be politicized.

This statement followed a meeting on July 24 between the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria and President Bola Tinubu, where concerns about rising poverty and insecurity were raised. While President Tinubu claimed his administration's reforms were yielding positive results, Onaiyekan suggested that the President was not receiving accurate information about the realities faced by ordinary Nigerians.

The MBF highlighted the severe conditions in the Middle Belt, where communities suffer from attacks by terrorists and armed Fulani militias, resulting in thousands of deaths and widespread displacement.