By Dorcas Francis Koji
Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, John Onaiyekan, has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu disagreed with concerns raised by members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) over the state of the economy, insecurity and the country’s political environment during a recent meeting at the Presidential Villa.
President Tinubu hosted the Catholic bishops at the State House, Abuja, on July 28, 2026, where the clerics presented their assessment of Nigeria’s current challenges and urged the government to address issues affecting citizens.
Speaking during an interview on Prime Time, a programme aired on Arise News on Friday, Onaiyekan said the President rejected the bishops’ assessment, maintaining that his administration was making progress.
“We told him the economy is not helping our poor people; he told us the economy is doing fine. Frankly speaking, he made it clear that he did not agree with our assessment,” the cleric said.
Despite the disagreement, Onaiyekan said the bishops had fulfilled their responsibility by conveying the concerns of Nigerians to the President.
“We did not expect him to agree with us. Our duty was to deliver our message, and we believe that, in time, some of the issues we raised may receive the attention they deserve,” he added.
The Archbishop explained that the position presented to the President reflected the collective views of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference following extensive consultations, stressing that the bishops had no political ambitions but were compelled by their pastoral responsibility to speak on matters affecting the welfare of Nigerians.
According to him, the delegation intentionally presented what it described as the realities confronting citizens rather than offering an overly optimistic assessment of the country’s situation. He noted that the President listened attentively and responded directly to the issues raised.
Onaiyekan also expressed concern over what he described as the reluctance of some government officials to provide honest feedback to the President, suggesting that such a culture could hinder effective governance.
Commenting on the nation’s political climate, the Archbishop defended the bishops’ warning against the emergence of a dominant one-party system, arguing that a healthy democracy depends on competitive elections and equal opportunities for all political parties.
He further called for reforms to strengthen public confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stating that questions over the commission’s neutrality would likely persist as long as its leadership continued to be appointed by the President.
The cleric urged the Federal Government to safeguard Nigeria’s democratic institutions and focus on addressing the country’s economic and security challenges, insisting that Nigerians deserve stronger institutions and improved governance.
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