Bode George Calls Onaiyekan Nigeria's Desmond Tutu

Chief Olabode George, the former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), referred to John Cardinal Onaiyekan as the "Desmond Tutu of Nigeria" in a statement he issued over the weekend. He encouraged Onaiyekan to disregard the criticisms he has faced from FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and other government officials regarding his honest remarks about Nigeria's state.

George urged Onaiyekan to draw inspiration from Tutu's experiences in South Africa, asserting that true clerics and Christians in Nigeria should persist in speaking truth to power despite intimidation. He criticized the attacks on Onaiyekan, questioning the rationale behind them and likening the situation to biblical events.

George emphasized Onaiyekan's status as a cardinal and a member of the conclave that elects the Pope, highlighting that he is over 80 years old and should not be subjected to such attacks. He also mentioned personal attacks he received from individuals associated with Wike, reinforcing the need for respect towards elders.