Former Minister of Transportation and African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, has defended Cardinal John Onaiyekan, insisting that the former Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja has no political affiliation and does not support any politician.
Amaechi made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he responded to claims by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, that the respected Catholic cleric was not neutral during the 2023 general election.
The former Rivers State governor disclosed that he temporarily suspended the traditional mourning of his late mother to appear on the programme because he considered it important to defend both his Christian faith and the integrity of Cardinal Onaiyekan.
Rejecting Wike’s allegation, Amaechi described the cardinal as a man of integrity whose concerns have always been about the welfare of Nigerians rather than partisan politics.
“He supports nobody. I see Cardinal Onaiyekan regularly, I worship at his chapel. He has no political leaning, the Catholic Church has no political leaning. Cardinal Onaiyekan himself supports nobody,” Amaechi said.
He explained that his long-standing relationship with the cleric had convinced him that Onaiyekan’s public interventions were driven by concerns over Nigeria’s economic hardship and rising poverty, not political interests.
“I’ve had several conversations with him, the only thing that pains him is the level of indiscretion and poverty in the country,” he added.
Amaechi’s comments come days after Wike questioned Cardinal Onaiyekan’s neutrality while reacting to the controversy surrounding the cleric’s remarks following a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
During his media parley in Abuja, Wike argued that the Cardinal’s repeated criticism of the Federal Government made it difficult to regard him as impartial.
“If a religious leader is perceived or seen to be taking a side, which is very clear, it is very difficult for people to begin to see those comments as being helpful,” Wike had said.
The FCT minister also claimed that the Cardinal’s political preference was widely known.
“I am aware of the position of Cardinal Onaiyekan; all of us know, it’s not hidden, whom he supports; everybody knows that,” Wike stated.
Amaechi’s response has added another dimension to the growing debate over the role of religious leaders in national affairs, following recent exchanges between the Presidency, Catholic bishops and political figures over governance, the economy and preparations for the 2027 general election.
