The Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has dismissed calls to respond to criticisms from the Presidency, insisting that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has no interest in engaging in a public war of words with government officials.
Speaking during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, Onaiyekan said the bishops had already delivered their message to President Bola Tinubu and were only concerned about whether their observations would influence governance.
“We have spoken, and the only response we are waiting for is whether what we said will affect the way they govern,” he said, adding that comments from government spokespersons were their personal responsibility and not something the bishops intended to debate publicly.
The cleric explained that the meeting between the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria and President Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, was initiated by the bishops after months of seeking an audience.
According to him, the visit was not aimed at advancing the interests of the Catholic Church or preaching to the President but was an opportunity to present the bishops’ concerns about governance, security and the welfare of Nigerians as part of their moral and pastoral responsibility.
“We did not go there as Catholic bishops pursuing a Catholic agenda. We went there with a spiritual mandate to speak truth in the name of God,” he said.
Onaiyekan expressed optimism that the meeting would not be the last engagement between the Church and the Federal Government, saying the bishops hoped to have another opportunity to present their concerns in greater detail.
He noted that the brief time allotted during the meeting was insufficient to fully discuss the issues affecting the country and urged the government to remain open to continued dialogue.
The cardinal also stressed that the bishops had no political ambitions, describing the document presented to the President as a unanimous position of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria rather than his personal opinion.
He maintained that the Church was not involved in partisan politics and remained committed to speaking on issues that affect the lives of Nigerians.
Commenting on the economy, Onaiyekan said government performance should not be judged solely by macroeconomic statistics but by the living conditions of ordinary citizens.
“If the primary responsibility of government is the welfare of the people, then the true measure of success is the quality of life of Nigerians, not just GDP figures or reports from international institutions,” he said.
Daily Trust
