Attacks On Catholic Bishops, Onaiyekan Deeply Troubling–Peter Obi

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr. Peter Obi , on Wednesday, condemned attacks on the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, following their meeting last week with President Bola Tinubu.
Reacting to statements by officials of government after former Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, appeared on a television programme and spoke on the meeting of the bishops and President Tinubu, Obi said “the attacks on the CBCN, and especially on His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, are deeply troubling.”
He recalled that even in 1998, when Pope John Paul II visited Nigeria and told General Abacha some hard truths, including about the incarceration of Chief Moshood Abiola, nobody vilified him.
According to the former Governor of Anambra State, the Catholic Church has never functioned as an opposition party in Nigeria and has been consistent in engaging successive military and civilian administrations in the country in matters regarding social justice, citizens’ rights and economic wellbeing of the people.
“Across military regimes and successive democratic administrations, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has maintained a principled voice on national issues and the nation’s conscience, commending governments when they deserved commendation and speaking the truth whenever national conscience demanded it.
“Its interventions are driven by a moral obligation, rooted in Christian social teaching, to defend truth, justice, and the common good.
“The same applies to Nigeria’s major religious organisations. Bodies such as Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) have repeatedly raised concerns over economic hardship, inflation, and insecurity.
“Living among the people, religious leaders often encounter the suffering of citizens firsthand. They speak because they witness families struggling with rising food prices, unemployment, and the fear created by kidnappings and insecurity,” Obi said.
Urging leaders to listen to people and organisations that speak the truth to them and genuinely criticise them when things are not going in the right direction, Obi said criticisms and suggestions by traditional rulers and religious bodies contributed greatly to his success as governor in Anambra State, especially in critical areas like education and health.
Pointing out that President Tinubu demonstrated his commitment and respect for the Catholic Church during the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV in Rome, Obi wondered why that posture has changed.
“What is playing out today also reveals how political leaders sometimes exploit religion and ethnicity to divide the people.
“Even when it was obvious that the CBCN was speaking on issues affecting Nigerians across religious and ethnic boundaries, aides to the President immediately reduced it to a “religious affair.”
“The question is: are insecurity, poverty, inflation, unemployment, and hardship problems exclusive to a particular faith? Do these challenges recognise religious or tribal boundaries?
“The bishops merely expressed what millions of Nigerians experience daily: insecurity has worsened, poverty is deepening, inflation is crippling families, businesses are struggling, and hope is fading.
“These are realities echoed by religious leaders across the country, to whom successive governments gave thanks and promised to look into their observations.
“Rather than address these concerns or explain the measures in place to ameliorate them, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s aides and supporters responded with vicious attacks, particularly against Cardinal John Onaiyekan, with little regard for his age, stature, and accomplishments.”
On attacks on Cardinal Onaiyekan, the NDC presidential candidate noted that resorting to personal attacks against him weakens public discourse and reveals an unhealthy intolerance of criticism in today’s Nigerian political space.
Obi noted that history is replete with religious leaders who challenged political authorities and held those who occupied public offices to account.
“Biblical prophets confronted kings, and modern faith communities continue to hold governments accountable. Nigeria has a similar tradition.
“The Catholic Church criticised military governments and successive civilian administrations, including those of Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan, and Buhari. Muslim organisations have done likewise.
“Governments respectfully disagreed at times, but they generally recognised the right and responsibility of religious bodies to speak. Why, then, does the truth provoke such anger today”?
He stated that the CBCN did not insult the President and can never do so, given the calibre of the people who make up the Conference.
“It gave voice to the suffering of Nigerians. The proper response was to thoughtfully address the issues raised, not attack those who raised them.
“When respected figures like Cardinal Onaiyekan are vilified for speaking the truth, the message sent to citizens is that silence is safer than honesty. No democracy can flourish under such a culture.” Obi stressed.