Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North Senatorial District, has described the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) as "the conscience of the country" and urged President Bola Tinubu to reflect on the concerns raised by the clerics rather than view them through the prism of political criticism. Kalu made the remarks in a video posted on his Facebook page on Monday, August 3, 2026, while reacting to the growing public debate that followed last week's meeting between President Tinubu and the leadership of the CBCN at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The meeting, which took place on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, saw a delegation of Catholic bishops led by CBCN President Archbishop Matthew Ndagoso express serious concerns over worsening economic hardship, rising insecurity, and the overall state of the nation. During the engagement, President Tinubu defended his administration's economic reforms, asserting that the economy was stabilising and noting the end of prolonged university strikes. He also told the bishops that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) remained neutral, adding that his political opponents were "afraid of their own shadows."
The encounter sparked significant public debate after Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, claimed during an interview on Arise Television that Tinubu was unhappy with the bishops' blunt message. Onaiyekan stated that the clerics told the president that the country was "bleeding" and that the deteriorating economic conditions were severely hurting poor Nigerians. The presidency quickly responded, with Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, faulting Onaiyekan's remarks, arguing that the Archbishop's comments did not represent all Christians and alleging that the Catholic Church was backing Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, for the 2027 elections.
In his reaction, Senator Kalu sought to de-escalate the tension, emphasising that the bishops have a moral responsibility to tell the truth. "To me, the Catholic Bishops are the conscience of the country. And once they give advice, their advice is not for or against," Kalu stated in the video. "Their advice is just for any sitting president, any sitting leader, to see things the way it should be." The former Abia State governor stressed that the bishops' intervention was intended to help the government improve governance rather than undermine the president. He also took a moment to correct a public misconception, clarifying that Cardinal Onaiyekan is not the current president of the CBCN.
While Kalu acknowledged the severe economic difficulties currently facing Nigerians, he defended the president, stating that the crisis is not solely Tinubu's fault. "There's difficulty in Nigeria, there's no doubt. And it's not the fault of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu," he said. The senator noted that while progress had been made on stabilising the broader economy, many Nigerians were yet to feel the benefits at the grassroots level. "And we have been able to capture the macro-economy, and the micro is what we are having problems, as I've always told people," he explained.
Kalu stressed that the president needs the unvarnished truth to lead effectively, arguing that politicians sometimes fail to give the President an accurate account of conditions in the country, unlike the bishops. "There's nothing new about the Catholic bishops visiting; they are clergymen who are conscious of what they speak and what they say," he noted. "Even if we politicians are lying to him and say things are good everywhere, the Catholic bishops can never say that. And that's why they are Catholic bishops." He added that the bishops' visit should prod the president to work harder because they are telling him the way it is. "Even if we politicians can lie to him, the bishops will tell him the truth about the current reality of the country," Kalu declared.
The senator also urged those working with the president to carefully consider the issues raised by the bishops and formulate policies that would improve the welfare of Nigerians. "It's left for us who work with President Tinubu to take back to our rooms and analyse what they say and come out with a beautiful thing that will make Nigerians happy," he said. Kalu dismissed any perceived disagreement between the bishops and the presidency, saying government officials should instead focus on the substance of the concerns raised by the clerics. "I believe whatever is the disagreement between the Catholic bishops and people speaking for the president, it's nothing because the Catholic bishops just dropped what they want to say about the presidency, or it's about what they want to say about what they know about the economy," he stated.
The senator's intervention comes at a time when the Catholic Bishops' Conference has found itself at the centre of a heated political debate, with the presidency and its supporters accusing the church of political bias while opposition figures and civil society groups have rallied behind the bishops' right to speak truth to power. The CBCN, one of the most influential religious bodies in Nigeria, has historically used its moral authority to speak on national issues, and its recent intervention has drawn an unusually sharp response from the government. The clash has highlighted the growing political tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the Catholic Church's perceived leanings toward the opposition becoming a point of contention between the government and the religious hierarchy.
Kalu's remarks have been widely interpreted as an attempt to build a bridge between the presidency and the Catholic bishops, acknowledging the legitimacy of the bishops' concerns while defending the president against accusations that he is solely responsible for the country's economic difficulties. By describing the bishops as "the conscience of the country," Kalu has affirmed the moral authority of the church while urging the government to listen and act on the concerns raised. His call for reflection and constructive engagement has been welcomed by those who believe that dialogue, rather than confrontation, is the path to addressing Nigeria's multiple challenges.
As the debate continues to unfold, Senator Kalu has made it clear that the Catholic bishops have done their duty by speaking truth to power, and it is now up to the government to respond with action. "So I believe whatever is the disagreement between the Catholic bishops and people speaking for the president, it's nothing," he said, urging officials to study the bishops' observations and come out with policies that would make Nigerians happy. Whether the presidency will heed this advice remains to be seen, but Kalu's intervention has ensured that the conversation will continue, with the hope that it will ultimately lead to meaningful change.
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