Sack aides feeding you lies, Catholic priest tells Tinubu

Catholic priest and former Executive Secretary of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Monsignor Obiora Ike, has urged President Bola Tinubu to dismiss advisers he believes are shielding him from the realities facing Nigerians, warning that misleading counsel could undermine efforts to address the country’s growing challenges.

Speaking during an interview, Ike criticised the Presidency’s response to comments made by Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, following a recent meeting between President Tinubu and members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).

According to him, public officials should be willing to accept constructive criticism rather than attack those who raise concerns about governance.

“If people who work for the presidency or work for government peddle lies, pretence and fail to give good advice, it doesn’t turn out good. To act like an attack dog against patriotic people is not only unfortunate, it is a disgrace,” he said.

The cleric insisted that political leaders have a moral obligation to confront the country’s economic and security challenges rather than downplay them.

“You are not just a political leader. You also have a moral responsibility to address the issues of the country. And if you say it’s overwhelming, then resign,” he said.

Ike argued that the Catholic bishops had merely spoken the truth about the state of the nation and dismissed suggestions that their comments were politically motivated.

“We don’t say he is not doing well. He is doing his best. But sometimes you do your best and it’s still not enough,” he said, adding that government becomes stronger when it listens to sincere advice.

Defending Cardinal Onaiyekan’s decision to discuss the meeting with the President, Ike said there was nothing confidential about conversations centred on issues already known to Nigerians.

“The discussions were not like a confession. Insecurity, the economy, education—are these secrets? Nigerians deserve to know the issues discussed,” he said.

He also rejected attempts to portray the bishops’ intervention as a religious or partisan campaign, insisting that truth should not be judged by the identity of the person speaking it.

“What the President must do is to listen to good advice and have the courage to act accordingly. What the President must do is to sack people around him who tell him lies and give him bad views. What the President must do is to tell Nigerians the truth,” Ike stated.