Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, has pushed back against criticism from the Presidency over his decision to publicly discuss a recent meeting between Catholic bishops and President Bola Tinubu.
The 82-year-old cleric said he would continue to speak frankly about the challenges facing Nigeria, insisting that neither his age nor criticism from government officials would silence him.
Onaiyekan made the comments in a video shared by Symfoni TV on Wednesday, days after the Presidency questioned his decision to disclose details of the bishops’ July 28 meeting with Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.
According to the cardinal, his appearance on Arise News was not intended to win the government’s approval or advance a personal agenda.
“I didn’t go to Arise to please the government, or to just please people, but to tell the truth. That’s all I stand for,” he said.
He also dismissed suggestions that the Presidency’s reaction could intimidate or embarrass him.
“I cannot be embarrassed. I’m 82 years old; nobody can embarrass me. And I’m not afraid of anybody,” Onaiyekan declared.
He questioned what consequences could realistically frighten him at his age.
“Nobody, at this stage now, are they going to arrest me, carry me to where?” he asked.
‘I Was Speaking for the Bishops’
Onaiyekan also rejected the impression that his television appearance represented only his personal position.
He explained that the issues he discussed had been agreed upon by the Catholic bishops who attended the meeting with the President.
“No, mind you, I didn’t talk on my own now. I spoke on behalf of my fellow bishops,” he said.
The cardinal said the bishops had prepared a joint statement outlining the concerns they intended to communicate, adding that the issues he raised during his television interview reflected that collective position.
“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.
The July 28 meeting was led by the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Matthew Man Oso Ndagoso of Kaduna. Other members of the delegation included Onaiyekan, Cardinal Peter Okpaleke and Bishop Matthew Kukah of Sokoto.
The bishops raised several issues with the President, including the worsening economic situation, insecurity, democracy, the 2027 elections, religious freedom and the return of mission schools.
Three days later, Onaiyekan appeared on Arise News and spoke publicly about the meeting and the concerns expressed by the bishops.
Presidency Objects to Public Disclosure
His comments drew a response from the Presidency.
Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, criticised the decision to publicly discuss aspects of the engagement, arguing that the meeting had been a private interaction.
Onaiyekan, however, maintained that religious leaders have a responsibility to speak about the conditions affecting the people they serve.
He said bishops would continue to express their concerns within their respective dioceses and noted that some other religious leaders had also voiced support for their position.
“I cannot speak on behalf of other religious leaders. Everybody has their own job to do, but many of the other religious leaders have supported us,” he said.
‘We Are All in the Same Boat’
The cardinal further argued that the concerns raised by the bishops should not be interpreted simply as a confrontation between the Catholic Church and the government.
For him, the hardship affecting Nigerians is a national issue that cuts across religious and political boundaries.
“When it comes to what is happening to Nigeria, the poverty, the suffering, we are all in the same boat now, abi?” he asked.
Onaiyekan also cautioned Nigerians against taking the country’s remaining space for public criticism for granted.
He said Nigeria still offers religious and civic leaders some room to express dissenting views, unlike several other African countries where, he argued, bishops and other public figures would face greater restrictions for making similar comments.
“And we are still lucky in this Nigeria that we can still talk. We shouldn’t take that for granted,” he said.
“There are many countries in Africa where no bishop dares to talk like we do here.”
The cardinal’s remarks underline his determination to continue speaking publicly about Nigeria’s political, economic and social challenges, despite the Presidency’s objection to his disclosure of details from the meeting with Tinubu.