Former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi accuses Nigeria’s presidency of insulting or attacking the Catholic Church following criticism of Catholic leaders after a meeting that included remarks by cleric Rev. Matthew Onaiyekan. Amaechi says the cleric’s public comments are not inappropriate, arguing they relate to issues discussed during the meeting. He also points out that the meeting occurs in the presence of journalists and television cameras, implying the remarks are part of a public, documented exchange rather than a secret or improper intervention.
Vanguard reports Amaechi faulting the presidency’s criticism of Catholic leaders, saying there was nothing wrong with what was said. Premium Times similarly reports that Amaechi rejects claims that the cleric’s statements were improper, describing the comments as being made in a context where media were present.
Across both outlets, the dispute centers on whether Onaiyekan’s remarks are legitimate engagement on discussed matters or whether the presidency portrays them as an unacceptable interference, with Amaechi disputing the presidency’s characterization.
