Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, says President Bola Tinubu rejected concerns raised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) during their courtesy visit to the State House in Abuja. Speaking on Friday on Arise Television’s “Prime Time,” Onaiyekan recounts that the bishops presented what they described as the realities facing the country and that this differed from the generally positive picture Tinubu typically receives. He says the CBCN members raised issues affecting ordinary Nigerians, including economic hardship and insecurity, and also discussed the political environment, including concerns about electoral credibility and the risk of one-party dominance. Onaiyekan states that during the meeting on July 28, 2026, Tinubu responded that INEC is neutral and that the economy is performing well. According to Onaiyekan, Tinubu made clear his disagreement and the rejection of the bishops’ concerns. The cardinal adds that the bishops did not expect agreement but believed they had fulfilled their obligation to convey their assessment of the situation to the President.
Cardinal Onaiyekan says Tinubu rejected CBCN concerns after State House meeting
Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, says President Bola Tinubu rejected concerns raised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) during thei...
- Cardinal John Onaiyekan says President Bola Tinubu rejected concerns raised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
- Onaiyekan made the comments in an interview on Arise Television’s “Prime Time” on Friday.
- The CBCN’s courtesy visit to Tinubu took place on July 28, 2026, at Nigeria’s State House in Abuja.
- Onaiyekan says the bishops raised concerns including economic hardship, insecurity, and political issues such as electoral credibility and one-party dominance.
- He says Tinubu responded that INEC is neutral and that the economy is performing well, and he clearly disagreed with the bishops’ assessment.
Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, has said President Bola Tinubu rejected the concerns raised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) during their recent courtesy visit to the State House in Abuja.Speaking on Friday in an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, Onaiyekan said the bishops used the meeting to present what they saw as the true state of the nation. They argued that this reality differed sharply from the positive reports the President typically receives from those around him.The CBCN had visited Tinubu on July 28, 2026. During the encounter, the President maintained that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was neutral and that the economy was performing well.Onaiyekan said Tinubu’s response was not favourable and that the President made his disagreement clear.“The president rejected our concerns of the country. Nigeria is bleeding. I was not surprised that he was not looking very happy. Not even his colleagues who were there,” the cardinal said.He continued: “We knew that this is different from the kind of statements that our president keeps receiving from all kinds of people, and that is one of the things that worries us. That there are so many people hanging around Mr President, giving him a rosy picture of what the country is, which it is not, and we felt that we have no duty to do that.“"Indeed, we have the obligation to help him to appreciate the reality of the situation in which we find ourselves, and that is the reality that we painted, which I know is not the kind of thing that he wanted to hear, and in reply he was very clear.”In related comments, Onaiyekan elaborated that the bishops told the President the economy was not helping the poor, while Tinubu insisted it was doing fine. The cardinal added that the bishops had not expected agreement and believed they had fulfilled their duty by delivering the message.The bishops’ concerns reportedly covered the economic hardship facing ordinary Nigerians, ongoing insecurity, and the political climate, including questions about electoral credibility and the risk of one-party dominance.
4 hours agoArchbishop Emeritus, Catholic Diocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, says President Bola Tinubu rejected the concerns of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, during their meeting with him at the State House, Abuja. Onaiyekan made this known on Friday when he appeared as a guest in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’. He recounted that […] Catholic Bishops’ visit: Tinubu rejected our concerns – Cardinal Onaiyekan
7 hours ago
Russia strikes Kyiv with missiles and drones as Ukraine reports Patriot interceptor shortages
Russia launches a heavy overnight attack on Kyiv that kills at least nine people and injures dozens, Ukrainian officials...
Thousands enter Spain’s Ceuta from Morocco as border breach escalates
Thousands of migrants cross from Morocco into Spain’s North African exclave of Ceuta, triggering an emergency response a...
Nirmal Purja among climbers missing after avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak
Renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal “Nimsdai” Purja is reported missing after an avalanche hits an international climbing...