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• Says attacks on Cardinal Onaiyekan show intolerance of dissent • Demands apology to Catholic Church, faithful
From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has lambasted the Presidency over its criticism of John Cardinal Onaiyekan following his comments after a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), insisting that Catholic bishops are “not political props, rented cheerleaders or praise singers.”
The 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) said the Presidency’s reaction to the respected cleric reflected what he described as a growing intolerance of dissent and independent voices under the Tinubu administration.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said it was unfortunate that rather than reflecting on the issues raised by the bishops, the Presidency allegedly resorted to intimidation, ridicule and political attacks.
“The Catholic Church has, for generations, stood as one of the moral voices of our nation. Its bishops and priests have consistently spoken for the poor, the oppressed and the vulnerable, irrespective of who occupies Aso Rock. Their duty is not to flatter those in power but to speak truth to power,” he said.
According to the former vice president, the Catholic bishops demonstrated courage by confronting the President with what they considered the realities facing the country, urging religious leaders across denominations to emulate their example by speaking truth to those in authority.
Atiku described the Presidency’s comments on Cardinal Onaiyekan as disrespectful and unbecoming of government, arguing that they amounted to an attack not only on the cleric but also on the Catholic Church and millions of its faithful.
He further accused the Presidency of attempting to reshape public perception of the meeting by selectively presenting its outcome.
“What the media managers of the Tinubu administration attempted to do was to overwrite the voices of the revered Catholic Bishops by selectively editing and reframing their engagement with the President in order to manufacture a narrative favourable to the government,” he alleged.
He defended Cardinal Onaiyekan’s decision to address journalists after the meeting, saying the cleric merely sought to place the facts on record following what he described as the Presidency’s attempt to dominate the public narrative.
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Atiku maintained that responding with insults instead of addressing the issues raised by the bishops exposed the weakness of the government’s position.
“The Presidency is not a secret cult where only approved voices are permitted to speak. In a constitutional democracy, no one needs the permission of Aso Rock to tell the truth about the state of the nation,” he said.
He stressed that Catholic bishops were under a moral obligation to speak on issues affecting the country and should not be expected to endorse government policies uncritically.
“They are not political props, rented cheerleaders or praise singers. They are shepherds with a moral obligation to speak truth to power, regardless of whose interests are bruised,” Atiku stated.
He argued that Cardinal Onaiyekan merely echoed the concerns of millions of Nigerians over hunger, insecurity, unemployment, rising poverty and the worsening cost-of-living crisis.
According to Atiku, governments confident in their performance welcome criticism as an opportunity for reflection and improvement, while insecure administrations attack dissenting voices and reward sycophancy.
He also maintained that democracy cannot thrive if religious leaders, civil society organisations and patriotic citizens are intimidated for expressing their views on national issues.
Calling on the Presidency to focus on the substance of the bishops’ intervention, Atiku urged the Federal Government to stop “shooting the messenger and address the message.”
He demanded an immediate and unreserved apology to Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Catholic Church and the Catholic faithful, insisting that the attack on the cleric amounted to an affront to one of Nigeria’s most respected moral institutions.
