By Opeyemi Adelakun
A fresh political and religious controversy erupted on Tuesday as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, dismissed Cardinal John Onaiyekan’s recent criticism of the Tinubu administration as partisan, drawing sharp reactions from northern youth groups, the Middle Belt Forum and the Catholic laity.
Wike, speaking during his monthly media briefing in Abuja, said the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja could not be regarded as impartial because of what he described as the cleric’s political alignment during the 2023 general election.
The minister argued that religious leaders should be balanced in their public interventions and should acknowledge government achievements alongside criticisms.
“I am aware of the position of Cardinal Onaiyekan; all of us know, it is not hidden, whom he supports; everybody knows that,” Wike said.
“It is not every time you say things are bad; nobody has heard you say government has done this well. 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.”
Wike maintained that persistent negative commentary from a public figure would naturally be interpreted as opposition rather than objective criticism.
He also rejected suggestions that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria was non-partisan in its recent comments on governance and elections.
“Don’t tell me they’re not partisan. You know what happened in the 2023 elections. People took sides, religious leaders took sides, it was very open. I would be stupid to sit here for anybody to tell me this person is impartial,” he said.
The minister further questioned the bishops’ call for the Independent National Electoral Commission to maintain neutrality in the 2027 elections, asking them to provide evidence to support allegations of bias.
“How did the Catholic Bishops come to the conclusion that INEC is biased? What are your facts?” he asked.
Wike’s remarks came after Onaiyekan disclosed that Catholic bishops had drawn President Bola Tinubu’s attention to worsening economic hardship and concerns that the administration appeared preoccupied with securing a second term in 2027.
The Presidency had earlier reacted through presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala, who said the cardinal’s comments did not represent the views of all Christians and alleged that some Catholic leaders were politically aligned with the opposition.
The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria swiftly backed Onaiyekan, saying he merely articulated the suffering confronting ordinary Nigerians.
In a statement signed by its National President, Isah Abubakar, the group described the cardinal as a respected elder statesman and moral voice who courageously presented the realities of inflation, insecurity and economic hardship.
The council criticised attempts to attack the cleric instead of addressing the issues he raised and urged religious and traditional leaders across the country to continue speaking on matters affecting citizens’ welfare.
Former Minister of Transportation and African Democratic Congress chieftain, Rotimi Amaechi, also entered the fray, accusing the Tinubu administration of disrespecting the Catholic Church.
Speaking on Channels Television, Amaechi said the bishops were justified in discussing hardship and electoral integrity during their meeting with the President.
“What the President and his men are doing is insulting my faith; they are insulting the Catholic Church,” he said.
Amaechi argued that religious leaders have a duty to hold governments accountable and recalled that the Catholic Church criticised the Muhammadu Buhari administration over insecurity without attracting similar attacks.
“When the Catholic Church came after Buhari, I was in Buhari’s government. We all kept quiet and looked at what we should do. We did not insult the bishops,” he said.
He added that Onaiyekan was motivated by concern for the country rather than support for any politician.
“He supports nobody. The only thing that pains him is the level of poverty, hardship and corruption in the country. He worries about Nigerians,” Amaechi said.
The Middle Belt Forum also declared support for Onaiyekan and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, condemning what it called unwarranted attacks on the cleric for speaking the truth about the suffering of Nigerians.
In a statement by its spokesman, Luka Binniyat, the forum said the cardinal merely echoed what millions of citizens experience daily.
The group linked economic hardship with insecurity in the Middle Belt, saying many communities had suffered years of attacks by terrorists and armed groups.
It argued that although the minimum wage had risen from N30,000 to N70,000, its real value had declined sharply because of inflation and the depreciation of the naira.
“Many workers earn more naira but command less value in real terms,” the forum said, insisting that millions of families could no longer afford basic necessities.
The Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria equally defended Onaiyekan, saying his comments were made out of concern for the nation rather than malice.
In a statement signed by National President Ambrose Obioha and Secretary-General Francis Olayinka Ojo, the council said the Church has a moral obligation to defend the vulnerable and speak truth to power.
“We know Cardinal Onaiyekan to be a man of peace, dialogue and integrity. His intervention was not to embarrass government, but to call the nation to conscience,” the statement said.
The council urged both the Presidency and the Catholic Church to sustain dialogue in the national interest, stressing that Nigeria needs moral voices at a time of widespread economic and social distress.
Leave a Reply