Presidency Dismisses Cardinal Onaiyekan's Criticism of Tinubu

The Presidency has responded to Cardinal John Onaiyekan's criticisms of President Bola Tinubu's administration, asserting that Onaiyekan was not speaking for all Christians in Nigeria but rather expressing a personal and political opinion. Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, made these remarks on his X account.

Onaiyekan had accused the Tinubu administration of prioritizing political victories over addressing Nigeria's pressing challenges following a visit from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) to the President. Bwala contended that Onaiyekan's comments were politically motivated, claiming that the Catholic Church largely supported Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi during the 2023 election.

He emphasized that not all Catholics backed Obi and asserted that President Tinubu had the right to disagree with the bishops' views on the economy, which he claimed were based on factual data. Bwala also stated that the broader Christian community should maintain a neutral stance rather than engage in political discourse.