Wike Critiques Onaiyekan's Impartiality in 2023 Elections

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), publicly questioned the impartiality of Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, regarding his comments during the 2023 general elections. Wike's remarks came during a media parley on Tuesday, responding to Onaiyekan's statements following a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).

Onaiyekan had suggested that those around President Tinubu were presenting an overly optimistic view of the country and indicated that the President was focused on the 2027 presidential election. Wike criticized religious leaders for failing to acknowledge government achievements, stating that persistent negative commentary could be perceived as politically motivated.

He asserted that it was evident which candidates religious leaders supported during the last election, emphasizing that their perceived bias undermines their credibility.