The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has remained silent on the disagreement between the Presidency and Bishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, following last week’s meeting between Catholic bishops and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, where discussions focused on the economy, security, governance and the 2027 general elections.
During the meeting, both sides expressed divergent views on the state of the economy, electoral reforms and governance.
A video clip from the meeting showed President Tinubu declaring that “all is fair in politics,” adding that hunger existed in Nigeria before he was born and that he could not be blamed for the country’s rising population. He also said his administration had stabilised the economy and that prosperity was on the horizon.
However, in a subsequent television interview, Cardinal Onaiyekan criticised the administration, accusing the President’s aides of shielding him from the realities facing Nigerians.
The cleric also questioned the electoral process, alleging that the President was determined to win by all means.
His comments drew a sharp response from the Presidency, which said the cardinal was not speaking on behalf of all Christians in Nigeria.
However, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has backed Onaiyekan, saying his comments on insecurity, governance and the state of the nation reflected the position of the Church.
LEADERSHIP reports that CBCN President and Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Rev. Matthew Man-oso Ndagoso, said there was no difference between Onaiyekan’s position and that of the bishops’ conference.
“Cardinal Onaiyekan did not deviate from the message of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, which I am leading,” Ndagoso said.
“The text of my message is there at the CBCN Secretariat for anyone to see, and I am very sure that if you read it, it is not different from our position,” he added.
The clarification followed remarks by Cardinal Onaiyekan after the bishops’ meeting with the President, during which he raised concerns over insecurity, economic hardship and governance challenges.
The CBCN delegation, which visited the Presidential Villa last Friday, was led by Archbishop Ndagoso and included senior Catholic leaders such as Archbishop Alfred Martins of Lagos, Bishop Peter Odetoyinbo of Abeokuta, Cardinal Peter Okpaleke of Ekwulobia, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja, Archbishop Gabriel Abegunrin of Ibadan and Bishop Matthew Kukah of Sokoto, among others.
During the meeting, Archbishop Ndagoso highlighted concerns over security, poor leadership, tertiary education, democratic stability, credible elections and poverty.
He also urged the President to consider the return of mission schools and ensure equal treatment for all religious groups, including access to places of worship.
The CBCN president further stressed the need for free and fair elections in 2027.
Responding, President Tinubu said the government was tackling insecurity through improved intelligence gathering, restructuring of security institutions, enhanced logistics and better welfare for security personnel.
He called on religious leaders to condemn violence, guide their members and support efforts to defeat terrorism.
“We don’t have another country but here – this Nigeria,” the President said.
“And I will refer to the national anthem: that in our complexity and diversity, we shall thrive, live, rejoice and be good to all, and humanity.
“I have just approved the expansion of the armed forces. We are getting more equipment and building new barracks. We will defeat terrorism. It should be part of your sermons. I won’t deviate from our national anthem.”
On poverty alleviation, Tinubu said his administration would sustain programmes such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to improve livelihoods.
“I have listened to you carefully, and most importantly, your key areas are security and education,” Tinubu stated.
“I can tell you categorically with sincerity that the country has been placed on a sound footing. The economy has recovered… The spirit of the people is lifting, and the economic turmoil that we feared is cleared.
“I inherited the assets and liabilities of my predecessor. I have been running with it. This government has stabilised, and there is prosperity on the horizon. Life is improving.”
On the 2027 elections, the President defended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying it was impartial.
“The opportunities are equal. INEC is neutral. They have never intimidated anyone. If political opponents are crying wolf, maybe they are afraid of their own shadows,” Tinubu said.
Calls and WhatsApp messages sent to CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, and General Secretary, Prof. Samson Fatokun, were not responded to as of press time.
Some other members of the CAN leadership contacted declined to comment, saying national issues were handled exclusively by the CAN president.
However, the Presidency said the Christian leaders were not under any gag order.
According to LEADERSHIP, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, said the government only disagreed with aspects of Onaiyekan’s comments during his Arise TV interview.
“They are not under any gagging order. What we found offensive is the slant Onaiyekan gave to it on Arise TV,” Ajayi said.
In his reaction to the exchange between the Presidency and Cardinal Onaiyekan, a former chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP) under former President Muhammadu Buhari, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, declared that the cardinal blurred the line between pastoral counsel and political commentary by publicly recounting President Bola Tinubu’s reaction during a recent meeting with Catholic bishops.
Acknowledging that Onaiyekan was correct to insist that leaders should listen to the truth, as such responsibility aligns with the Church’s prophetic duty, Obono-Obla, however, argued that the manner in which the cardinal shared details of the meeting created room for political interpretation.
“The bishops’ visit to the President was important because it gave them a chance to raise the real concerns of Nigerians—hardship, insecurity and governance challenges.
“Cardinal Onaiyekan was right to insist that leaders hear the truth, since that is the Church’s prophetic duty. However, by publicly recounting the President’s reaction, he blurred the line between pastoral counsel and political commentary.
“In a polarised environment, especially given his past support for another candidate in 2023, his remarks risked being interpreted as partisan.
“So, while his concerns were valid, the way he expressed them left room for misinterpretation. Religious leaders must balance truth-telling with discretion, so their moral voice is not mistaken for political advocacy,” he said.
