The presidential running mate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has accused President Bola Tinubu and some of his aides of showing disrespect to Christians and the Catholic Church.
Amaechi made the remarks on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, following recent exchanges between the Presidency and the Catholic Church.
He said his criticism of the President was not based on ethnicity but on what he described as repeated attacks on the Christian faith.
According to Amaechi, he believes in religious tolerance and mutual respect, noting that both Muslims and Christians are accommodated in his home.
“We are being insulted because we are Christians. I don’t believe in ethnicity. If you come to my house, there is a place for Muslims to worship because I have Muslim staff, and by the right-hand side is a chapel. You worship your God and I worship my God, but don’t insult my God,” he said.
He added that respect for one’s faith encourages others to do the same.
Amaechi further alleged that President Tinubu had allowed his aides to attack Christian leaders and institutions.
“My problem is with Tinubu and his aides. He is sending out more attack dogs against the Church, and he has no respect for the Catholic Church and the Christian faith. They should leave the Catholic Church alone. They should respect God and the Catholic faith. They should stop insulting Christians and the leadership of the Christian faith,” he said.
His comments come amid recent tensions between the Presidency and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) following criticisms by Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan.
Onaiyekan had expressed concerns over Nigeria’s economic and security challenges, saying the country was “bleeding,” and claimed that President Tinubu dismissed issues raised by the Catholic bishops during a meeting at the Presidential Villa.
