The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has thrown its support behind the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) following the bishops’ recent criticism of the country’s security and socio-economic situation.
PFN National President, Bishop Wale Oke, said the Pentecostal body stands with the Catholic bishops, insisting that an attack on Catholic leaders over their concerns about Nigeria amounts to an attack on the wider Christian community.
Speaking in an interview monitored by Sunday Vanguard, Oke endorsed comments made by Cardinal John Onaiyekan during the Catholic bishops’ recent visit to President Bola Tinubu, where the cleric told the President that “Nigeria is bleeding.”
Oke echoed the concerns, pointing to violence and insecurity reported in different parts of the country.
“Are we not bleeding? Are we not bleeding in Benue? Are we not bleeding in Southern Kaduna? Are we not bleeding in Gwoza, in Borno State? Are we not bleeding in Kwara? Are we not bleeding in Oyo State?” Oke asked.
The PFN president rejected the suggestion that speaking openly about the country’s problems amounted to political activity, arguing that religious leaders have a responsibility to speak when citizens are suffering.
“Should anybody attack a Catholic bishop for saying that? That is the obvious truth,” he said.
Oke further stressed that differences between Christian denominations should not be used to isolate the Catholic Church from the broader Christian community.
“The Church of Jesus Christ is one. There may be many denominations, but we have one faith, one Lord, one baptism. The Church is one. If they attack the Catholic bishops, they are attacking the whole Church,” he declared.
PFN Raises Alarm Over Violence
Oke also condemned what he described as the government’s inadequate response to attacks and killings, citing violence in Plateau, Southern Kaduna, Benue and Taraba, as well as reported attacks in Oyo, Kwara and Edo states.
He said the government should do more to protect Nigerians and address insecurity across the country.
Bishop Oke Rejects Bus Preaching Restriction
The PFN president also addressed the controversy surrounding a proposed amendment to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Act, which includes a N50,000 fine for certain forms of roadside or bus preaching.
Although the Senate has explained that the provision dates back to 2007 and was being re-itemised, Oke insisted that it should be removed.
“We will break that law. Dear Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we will rather obey God than man,” he declared.
Oke said he had preached in buses since 1975 without causing accidents or distracting drivers.
“If you want to imprison us for preaching the gospel, we are ready. If you want to make all the stadiums in Nigeria prisons, we are ready. We would rather obey God than man,” he added.
PFN Demands Nigeria’s Exit From OIC
Oke also called on the National Assembly to revisit Nigeria’s membership of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
He argued that Nigeria joined the organisation during military rule without the consent of the people.
“The Senate should deal with that and pull Nigeria out of the OIC,” he demanded.
He also renewed his call for a review of the 1999 Constitution, alleging that it contains provisions that favour Islam.
“In that Constitution, Islam is mentioned hundreds of times. Christianity is mentioned once. And Christians in Nigeria are a little over 50 per cent of the population,” he argued.
According to Oke, the Constitution was imposed under military rule and should be reviewed to better reflect the wishes of Nigerians.
Oke Repeats Christian Genocide Claims
The PFN leader also maintained his position that Christians are being targeted in parts of Nigeria, accusing the government of spending resources to counter claims of Christian genocide abroad while killings continue at home.
He called for greater engagement between the National Assembly and Christian leaders over the country’s security situation.
“The Senate should invite the Church for a talk. Nigerians are being killed. You are sitting there making evil laws. We will break that law,” Oke said.
He disclosed that the PFN was also engaging privately with the Presidency over some of the issues, although he declined to reveal details of those discussions.
Pastor Osuntayo Questions Bishops’ Timing
However, Pastor Seyi Osuntayo, Area Superintendent of The Apostolic Church Nigeria, Igbein Area, offered a different perspective on the controversy.
Osuntayo expressed concern about what he described as an ongoing altercation between the Presidency and the Catholic bishops, arguing that the timing of the bishops’ intervention could be interpreted as political.
“The timing of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria’s advice could be suspicious and be seen as partisan,” he said.
He added:
“I feel the Catholic Bishops should have been talking about governance ab initio, not at the time of the electioneering campaign.”
Osuntayo said Christian leaders should focus more on praying for those in authority rather than becoming involved in political confrontations.
He referenced 1 Timothy 2:1–4, urging Christians to pray for leaders regardless of whether they agree with their policies or leadership style.
“Our leaders need prayer, whether we agree with their views and leadership style or not. We may not get to choose our leader or their position on the issues we care about, but we can choose to be obedient to the Lord and cover them in prayer,” Osuntayo said.
He also criticised what he described as the growing practice of Christian leaders using media platforms to attack the government, arguing that such actions could further increase political tension.
“Instead of complaining or criticising, we can surrender our emotions and let the power of prayer take over. We never saw Jesus calling people to activism or rebellion against the Roman leaders who would ultimately kill Him,” he added.
Journalist Accuses Government of Diverting Attention From Hardship
Journalist and author Ben Charles-Davies took a different position, describing the exchange between the Presidency and the Catholic bishops as unnecessary.
He argued that the country’s major concerns, particularly economic hardship, should remain the focus of government.
“My simple response to the verbal exchange between the Presidency and the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria is that it is unnecessary. The government is trying to divert attention from the main issue, which is poverty in the land,” Charles-Davies said.
He accused the government of what he described as “rank hypocrisy”, recalling that the Catholic bishops, under Cardinal Onaiyekan, had previously criticised the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan over economic issues in 2014.
Charles-Davies noted that the APC, then in opposition, had praised Onaiyekan for speaking on behalf of Nigerians.
He argued that the same party’s reaction today appears different because it is now in government.
“Today, the APC government is angry because the same bishops informed them that Nigerians are going through socio-economic hardship and they are unhappy. That’s hypocrisy,” he asserted.
He urged government spokespersons to be more careful when responding to respected national figures who express contrary opinions.
According to him, the country belongs to every Nigerian and not only those currently holding government positions.
Charles-Davies also questioned whether government officials were willing to tell President Tinubu the truth about the challenges facing ordinary Nigerians.
“Who in government, among ministers and advisers, can boldly tell the President the true situation of things in the country? Daily killings, kidnapping for ransom, food inflation, high transportation costs, collapsed health services, etc.? Not one. All of them are struggling to impress the President. Everything is going well. Nigerians are happy with the reforms.”
He maintained that Cardinal Onaiyekan had simply expressed the concerns and suffering being experienced by many Nigerians regardless of their religious background.|
Commentator Accuses Catholic Bishops of Political Influence
Meanwhile, Ugoji Maximillian, a speaker, author and entrepreneur who was raised Catholic and attended a seminary, offered a more critical assessment of the bishops.
Maximillian described the Catholic bishops as a powerful institution with significant political influence in Nigeria.
“The Catholic bishops are a strong body. But they are highly political. They know how to play politics and can intimidate and threaten a politician using their structures,” he said.
He claimed that Catholic clerics have historically played influential roles in political developments in states including Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Benue and Kaduna.
Maximillian also criticised the bishops’ alleged political position during the 2023 presidential election, claiming that they strongly supported Peter Obi while opposing Tinubu.
“In 2023, they made a wrong move. That wrong move backfired. They put their eggs in one basket. They went all out for Peter Obi. They showed clearly that they disliked Tinubu. But they masked it by saying they were against the Muslim-Muslim ticket,” he said.
He argued that some influential figures within the Church were unhappy about not having the level of political influence they expected.
“It pains influential men to be ignored by the one who rules their domains,” he added.
Former Lagos Commissioner Points to Economic Progress
Offering another perspective, former Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning, Toyin Ayinde, said Nigerians may sometimes expect economic changes to happen faster than is realistically possible.
Ayinde questioned whether comments from political actors should automatically be accepted without considering their previous political positions.
“Politicians visiting a politician, and you want me to comment, especially when the former had openly shown, before the 2023 election, that they were pitched against the latter?” he asked.
He also pointed to what he described as improvements in Nigeria’s financial environment, citing his personal experience using a Nigerian naira ATM card for international transactions.
“I have, in the course of this year, made an online payment of about £4,500 using my naira ATM card, and while in Canada, I used my naira ATM card for most of my purchases. I didn’t need to use the dollar card.”
Ayinde cautioned that Nigerians often expect immediate results from economic reforms.
“Nigerians don’t understand process, so everything must happen at microwave speed,” he said.
He also criticised what he described as a culture of publicly shaming political opponents instead of offering constructive solutions.
“Rather than contribute advice for a guided way forward, we look for what to talk about in a disrespectful way to shame the other party,” he said.
The debate reflects the widening disagreement among religious leaders, political commentators and other stakeholders over how the government should respond to Nigeria’s insecurity and economic challenges, as well as the appropriate role of religious institutions in national politics.
