By Samuel Agada
The Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to improve its governance, saying Catholic bishops are no longer interested in engaging in public arguments with the government.
Cardinal Onaiyekan made the statement on Monday during an interview on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, while reacting to criticisms from the Presidency following the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) meeting with President Tinubu.
The bishops had recently visited the President at the State House, Abuja, where they presented their concerns over the state of the nation, particularly issues surrounding the economy and insecurity.
However, Cardinal Onaiyekan said the bishops were not interested in trading words with government officials or spokespersons over their assessment of the country.
He explained that the intervention of the Catholic bishops was not aimed at promoting a religious agenda but was driven by their moral responsibility to speak on issues affecting Nigerians.
“We are done talking. You can govern better. We didn’t go there just as Catholic bishops pushing the Catholic agenda. No. We went there as people who are with the spiritual mandate to speak to anybody in the name of God,” he said.
The former Abuja archbishop also dismissed suggestions that the bishops’ comments were limited to the interests of Catholics, insisting that their concerns reflected the broader challenges facing Nigerians.
Cardinal Onaiyekan said responses from government supporters and spokespersons were their personal responsibility, adding that he had no intention of joining the debate.
“That some of the supporters of government and the state and spokespersons may have their own idea about what they think they should be saying on behalf of their principal, is their business, not mine,” he stated.
He added that reactions from Nigerians on social media were sufficient responses to the criticisms directed at the bishops.
“As for response to the things we are hearing, I don’t even have to say anything because the social media is full of response from Nigerian people and that for me is more than enough,” Onaiyekan said.
Samuel Agada is a writer and media contributor from Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. He is a graduate of Biochemistry from the University of Jos and a former banker with GTBank and FCMB. A prolific writer, songwriter, educator, and Gospel preacher, he is passionate about informing, inspiring, and impacting society through his work.