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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has accused Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, of taking sides during the 2023 general election, arguing that the cleric cannot be regarded as an impartial commentator on national issues.
Wike made the remarks during a media parley on Tuesday while reacting to the controversy surrounding Onaiyekan’s comments after a recent meeting between President Bola Tinubu and members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
Following the meeting, the cardinal had alleged that those around President Tinubu were presenting him with a misleadingly positive picture of the country and suggested that the President was already focused on securing re-election in 2027.
Responding, Wike said public interventions by respected religious leaders should be balanced, warning that constant criticism of government without acknowledging its achievements could be interpreted as political bias.
“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,” he said.
“I am aware of the position of Cardinal Onaiyekan; all of us know, it’s not hidden, whom he supports; everybody knows that.”
The FCT minister maintained that while governments should be criticised where necessary, they should also receive credit for policies and programmes that deliver positive results.
“It’s not every time you say things are bad; nobody has heard you say government has done this well,” Wike said.
“The point I am trying to make is that, as a leader, commend government when government has done well in certain areas; criticise government and say, look, you have done this well, but you should improve in these other areas.”
He argued that persistent criticism without recognition of progress would naturally lead the government to conclude that such remarks were politically motivated.
When reminded that the Catholic bishops had insisted their position was not partisan, Wike rejected the claim, insisting that many religious leaders openly backed candidates during the 2023 presidential election.
“Don’t tell me they’re not partisan. You know what happened in the 2023 election. People took sides, religious leaders took sides, it was very open,” he said.
“I would be stupid to sit here for anybody to tell me this person is impartial. No. We know ourselves in this country; we know who belongs to where. Who did they support in 2023? It was very obvious,” Wike added.
