Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, has launched a defiant response to the Presidency's criticism of his public account of a recent meeting between Catholic bishops and President Bola Tinubu, insisting that he appeared on national television to tell the truth about Nigeria's worsening economic hardship and insecurity, not to please the government or curry favour with anyone. In a video shared by Symfoni TV on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, the 82-year-old cleric dismissed suggestions that the Presidency's reaction could embarrass or intimidate him, declaring: "I cannot be embarrassed. I'm 82 years old; nobody can embarrass me. And I'm not afraid of anybody. Nobody, at this stage now, are they going to arrest me, carry me to where?"
The controversy began when a delegation of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria met with President Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on July 28, 2026. The delegation, led by the CBCN President, Archbishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso of Kaduna, included Onaiyekan, Cardinal Peter Okpaleke, Bishop Matthew Kukah of Sokoto, and other senior Catholic clerics. During the meeting, the bishops raised pressing concerns about economic hardship, insecurity, the state of democracy, preparations for the 2027 elections, religious freedom, and the return of mission schools. The bishops reportedly spoke frankly to the President about the dire condition of Nigerians, but Tinubu reportedly rejected their assessment, insisting that his administration was on the right track.
Three days after the meeting, Onaiyekan appeared on Arise News, where he publicly recounted the bishops' interaction with the President and spoke about their concerns over the state of the nation. His remarks subsequently triggered a sharp response from the Presidency. President Tinubu's Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, criticised the public disclosure of details from what he regarded as a private engagement, describing it as inappropriate. Ajayi also suggested that Onaiyekan was acting as an opposition proxy, a charge the cardinal has vehemently rejected.
In his latest video response, Onaiyekan made it clear that his comments were never intended to please the government or any individual. "I didn't go to Arise to please government, or to just please people, but to tell the truth. That's all I stand for," he said. The cardinal stressed that his remarks reflected the collective position of the Catholic bishops who attended the meeting, rather than his personal views. "No, mind you, I didn't talk on my own now. I spoke on behalf of my fellow bishops. We drafted a statement which contained all that I said in the interview. So, all the bishops of Nigeria spoke that way. It was their voice I was echoing," he explained.
Onaiyekan also urged Nigerians to value the freedom to criticise those in government, warning that such openness should not be taken for granted. "And we are still lucky in this Nigeria that we can still talk. We shouldn't take that for granted. There are many countries in Africa where no bishop dares to talk like we do here," he said. The cardinal noted that several other religious leaders had also voiced concerns about the country's condition, adding: "When it comes to what is happening to Nigeria, the poverty, the suffering, we are all in the same boat now, abi?"
The cardinal's defiant stance has resonated with many Nigerians who have grown increasingly frustrated with the country's economic decline and the government's perceived insensitivity to the plight of ordinary citizens. His refusal to be silenced by official criticism has been hailed as a courageous act of moral leadership, coming at a time when public discourse in Nigeria is often stifled by political pressure and the fear of reprisal. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria has consistently used its platform to advocate for good governance, human rights, and social justice, and Onaiyekan's latest intervention underscores the church's commitment to speaking truth to power, regardless of the consequences.
As the 2027 elections approach, the exchange between Onaiyekan and the Presidency has added to the growing debate over the state of democracy and freedom of expression in Nigeria. For the cardinal, the message is clear: at 82, he has nothing to fear, and he will continue to speak out on behalf of the millions of Nigerians who are struggling to survive. "I don't have to respond to those attacking me on social media because other Nigerians have spoken on my behalf," he said. The question now is whether the government will heed the bishops' warnings or continue to dismiss their concerns as inappropriate political interference.
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