Northern Christian Group, Atiku, Shehu Sani Rally Behind Onaiyekan, Condemn Presidency’s Criticism of Catholic Bishops

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The Northern Christian Association (NCA), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani have thrown their weight behind former Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) following criticism from the Presidency over comments made about the state of the nation.

The controversy began after the Catholic bishops met President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Following the meeting, Cardinal Onaiyekan, during an interview, expressed concern over the worsening economic hardship in the country, rising intolerance for opposing views, and what he described as the government’s growing discomfort with criticism. He also alleged that the President was not being adequately briefed on the realities facing Nigerians and warned that the administration’s determination to retain power in the 2027 general elections could undermine electoral credibility if state resources were misused.

Reacting to the remarks, the President’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, dismissed Onaiyekan’s comments as politically motivated. He further argued that the cardinal was speaking only for Catholics and not for the entire Christian community, describing him as “more political than spiritual.”

However, the Northern Christian Association rejected Bwala’s position, accusing him of attempting to create unnecessary divisions among Christians. The association insisted that the Catholic bishops spoke on behalf of Nigerians and not solely for members of the Catholic Church.

NCA Chairman, Rev. Joseph Hayab, stressed that the association comprises Christians from various denominations, including Catholics, Baptists, ECWA, Methodists, Anglicans, and Pentecostals. According to him, efforts to portray the Catholic Church as isolated from the broader Christian community were misleading and unacceptable.

Hayab maintained that Cardinal Onaiyekan and the Catholic bishops deserved respect for offering sincere advice to the government on issues affecting the nation. He argued that their meeting with President Tinubu focused on matters concerning all Nigerians, not merely Catholic interests.

He described the Presidency’s response as disrespectful and urged government officials to embrace constructive criticism instead of attacking respected religious leaders. According to him, honest counsel should be appreciated because it provides an opportunity for government to improve governance and address the country’s numerous challenges.

The cleric further warned that officials who resort to propaganda instead of addressing the concerns of citizens were contributing to Nigeria’s problems. He cautioned that unless the nation’s growing economic and social difficulties were tackled, every Nigerian, regardless of political affiliation, would ultimately bear the consequences.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also defended Cardinal Onaiyekan and the Catholic bishops, accusing the Presidency of responding with intimidation instead of reflecting on the substance of the bishops’ message.

In a statement issued through his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that Catholic bishops are independent religious leaders who cannot be manipulated for political purposes. He contrasted them with what he described as “fake bishops,” insisting that Catholic clergy have a moral obligation to speak truth to those in authority regardless of political interests.

According to Atiku, the Catholic Church has consistently defended the poor, vulnerable, and oppressed throughout Nigeria’s history, irrespective of which political party controlled the Federal Government. He accused the Tinubu administration of attempting to distort the bishops’ message by selectively presenting their engagement with the President.

The former Vice President maintained that the cardinal’s comments merely reflected the realities confronting millions of Nigerians, including widespread hunger, insecurity, unemployment, poverty, and the rising cost of living. He therefore demanded that the Presidency apologise to Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Catholic Church, and Catholics across the country, warning that continued attacks on respected religious leaders would reinforce perceptions of intolerance within the administration.

Former Senator Shehu Sani also joined the debate, defending the Catholic bishops’ tradition of speaking truth to power. While acknowledging that President Tinubu had every right to defend his administration’s economic policies, Sani maintained that the Catholic bishops had never been partisan in their engagements with successive governments.

He noted that from the era of military rule through democratic administrations, Catholic bishops had consistently offered honest assessments of governance without aligning themselves with political interests. Sani added that the bishops’ long-standing tradition demonstrated their commitment to national development rather than partisan politics.