The Presidency has criticised representatives of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) over their conduct following a recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu, insisting that the clerics do not hold an exclusive monopoly on the truth about the country’s situation.
It also faulted the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, for publicly disclosing details of the closed-door meeting, describing the action as inappropriate and contrary to the confidentiality expected of high-level engagements.
In separate statements issued on Saturday, presidential aides Temitope Ajayi and Daniel Bwala defended President Tinubu’s response to concerns raised by the bishops, arguing that their assessment of the economy, security and governance represented only one viewpoint and was open to public scrutiny and rebuttal.
The Presidency’s reaction followed comments made by Cardinal Onaiyekan during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, where he disclosed details of the July 28 meeting between President Tinubu and a delegation of the Catholic Bishops at the Presidential Villa.
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According to Onaiyekan, the bishops expressed concerns over rising economic hardship, insecurity and the state of Nigeria’s democracy, but President Tinubu rejected their assessment, insisting that his administration was making measurable progress.
The cardinal also maintained that the issues raised by the bishops reflected the collective position of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference rather than his personal opinion.
Responding, the Presidency said while religious leaders have every right to express their views on national issues, their opinions should not be regarded as the only valid assessment of the country’s condition.
It further argued that confidential discussions between the President and visiting delegations should remain private, warning that public disclosure of such engagements could undermine the trust necessary for frank and constructive dialogue.
