Wike Criticizes Cardinal Onaiyekan for Election Bias

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), criticized Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, for allegedly supporting a specific candidate during the 2023 general election. Wike's comments came during a media parley on Tuesday, responding to Onaiyekan's remarks 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 positive view of the country's situation and indicated that the President was focused on the 2027 presidential election. Wike argued that public comments from religious leaders should be balanced and that consistent criticism without acknowledgment of government achievements could be seen as politically motivated.

He stated that it is essential for leaders to commend the government for its successes while also providing constructive criticism. Wike rejected claims of non-partisanship among Catholic bishops during the 2023 elections, asserting that their biases were evident.