By Paul Joseph
Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of being determined to secure victory in the 2027 general election “by every means,” warning that the growing use of the powers of incumbency could undermine the credibility of the polls and render the votes of Nigerians meaningless.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News, Onaiyekan said the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) conveyed its concerns directly to the President during a meeting at the Presidential Villa on July 28, where the bishops raised issues relating to the economy, insecurity and Nigeria’s political climate.
According to the cleric, Tinubu openly rejected the bishops’ assessment of the country’s condition, insisting that the economy was performing well despite widespread hardship.
“When the nation is bleeding, you cannot expect a polite meeting with the Head of State. We told him the economy is not helping poor Nigerians, but he disagreed with us quite clearly,” Onaiyekan said.
He stressed that the bishops’ position was not the opinion of a few individuals but the outcome of extensive consultations within the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, adding that the statement presented to the President was carefully drafted to reflect the realities facing Nigerians.
Onaiyekan said the bishops had no political ambitions and were motivated solely by their responsibility to speak truth to power on issues affecting the welfare of Nigerians.
The cardinal also lamented what he described as a culture of sycophancy around the President, alleging that many of Tinubu’s advisers were shielding him from the true state of the nation by presenting an overly positive picture.
He warned that Nigeria was drifting toward a one-party dominant system, arguing that the ruling establishment appeared determined to retain power regardless of the consequences for democracy.
“We are worried that the government is bent on winning by all means, and unfortunately they have many means at their disposal. They are deploying those means in such a way that even if elections are held, the votes of the people may not count,” he said.
Onaiyekan further questioned the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), arguing that public confidence in the electoral body would remain weak as long as its leadership continued to be appointed by the President.
He called for reforms that would establish a truly independent process for appointing electoral commissioners and strengthen democratic institutions to guarantee free, fair and credible elections.
The cleric urged President Tinubu to live up to his reputation as a pro-democracy figure by ensuring a level playing field ahead of the 2027 elections, insisting that the Catholic bishops were speaking on behalf of millions of Nigerians concerned about worsening economic conditions, insecurity and the future of the country’s democracy.
Despite their disagreements during the meeting, Onaiyekan expressed hope that the President would eventually reflect on the concerns raised by the bishops and take steps to address them.
He maintained that the delegation had fulfilled its duty by presenting what it described as the true state of the nation rather than offering flattering assessments.
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