Cardinal Onaiyekan defends public account of meeting with President Tinubu

Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, has rejected criticism from the Nigerian Presidency regarding his public disclosure of a meeting between Catholic bishops and President Bola Tinubu.

The controversy stems from a July 28 meeting at the State House in Abuja, where a delegation from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) raised concerns regarding economic hardship, insecurity, democracy, and preparations for the 2027 elections. Following the meeting, Onaiyekan appeared on television to recount the discussions, an act the Presidency described as inappropriate because the engagement was intended to be a private interaction.

Responding to the criticism, the 82-year-old cleric stated that his intention was to tell the truth and communicate the collective concerns of the bishops rather than to please the government. Onaiyekan emphasized that he was not intimidated or embarrassed by the reaction, noting that he was speaking on behalf of his fellow bishops. He also urged Nigerians to value their freedom to criticize the government, observing that religious leaders in other African nations often lack such liberty.