Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has declined to respond to criticisms from the Presidency following the recent meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), insisting that the bishops have already delivered their message and are now waiting to see whether the government will act on it.|
Speaking during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Onaiyekan said the Catholic bishops have no interest in exchanging words with government spokespersons, stressing that their concern is good governance and the welfare of Nigerians.
“We have spoken and the only response we are waiting for is whether it is affecting the way they are governing,” the Cardinal said.
He added that whatever government supporters or spokespersons choose to say in defence of the administration is their responsibility, not that of the bishops.
“Some of the supporters of government and spokespersons may have their own idea about what they think they should be saying on behalf of their principal. That is their business, not mine,” he stated.
Onaiyekan rejected suggestions that the bishops were speaking only for Catholics, explaining that their visit to the State House was part of their moral responsibility to speak on issues affecting every Nigerian.
“We didn’t go there just as Catholic bishops pushing the Catholic agenda. We went there as people with the spiritual mandate to speak to anybody in the name of God,” he said.
The Cardinal disclosed that the audience with President Tinubu was requested by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria and only took place after several months of waiting for approval.
According to him, the purpose of the meeting was not to preach to the President or advance the interests of the Catholic Church, but to present the bishops’ concerns about governance, insecurity and the welfare of Nigerians.
“We didn’t go there to preach to him or try to convert him to the Catholic Church. We went there to share our views and thoughts about the government which he heads, hoping that our ideas will be taken into consideration,” he explained.
While expressing hope that the dialogue with the government would continue, Onaiyekan said the bishops would welcome another opportunity to present their concerns in greater detail.
“We are hoping that our meeting with the President did not end with that visit. We hope another opportunity will be created for a more detailed conversation,” he said.
The Cardinal also stressed that the Catholic Church has no political ambition, insisting that the bishops’ intervention was purely a moral obligation.
“We don’t have any political ambitions. Even our church does not allow us to engage in party politics,” he noted.
Speaking on the economy, Onaiyekan argued that the success of any government should not be measured solely by economic statistics but by the quality of life experienced by ordinary Nigerians.
“We are not going to judge the success of our government on the basis of GDP or World Bank statistics. The important thing is, how is the life of the Nigerian?” he asked.
He described youth unemployment as one of the country’s biggest challenges, lamenting that many graduates are unable to secure jobs or plan their future despite completing their education.
The Cardinal also called on other Christian and Muslim leaders to engage the government on issues affecting citizens, saying collective efforts would strengthen the search for solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.
“It would be wonderful if we could organise a meeting with Mr. President and all the religious leaders in Nigeria, talking together,” he added.
