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By Lawrence Agbo
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria has questioned whether members of the National Assembly truly reflect the will of the people, saying many Nigerians feel increasingly disconnected from their elected representatives.
Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, made the remarks on Thursday while speaking on Prime Time on ARISE News.
“We are no longer sure that our representatives in the National Assembly represent we the people,” he said. “The priorities they set and the decisions they take do not show that they represent us,” he said.
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Onaiyekan stressed that the Catholic bishops were not seeking to assume political authority but were fulfilling their moral obligation to speak on issues affecting citizens.
“Nigeria’s bishops have no intention of taking over the government; we are simply speaking for the people and speaking truth to power,” he added.
He noted that persistent economic hardship, insecurity and widespread public dissatisfaction have intensified concerns about governance and legislative responsiveness.
The cleric argued that when policy choices appear disconnected from citizens’ realities, it fuels the perception that lawmakers are out of touch with those who elected them.
