The Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has declined to engage in a public exchange with presidential aides over criticisms arising from the recent meeting between Catholic bishops and President Bola Tinubu, saying the clerics were more concerned about whether their message would influence governance and improve the lives of Nigerians.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ELLAN.png")
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-Summer-IDRI-Masterclass.jpg")
Onaiyekan said the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria had already presented its concerns to the President and had no intention of responding to every statement made by government supporters or spokespersons.
The Cardinal spoke on Monday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State.
His remarks followed criticism by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, who accused him of abusing the privilege of a private meeting by granting a television interview and offering his interpretation of what transpired.
The controversy arose after the Catholic Bishops’ Conference met President Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on July 28, 2026, and presented its assessment of Nigeria’s economic and security conditions.
Onaiyekan had subsequently accused the Tinubu administration of being determined to win the 2027 general elections “by all means” and warned that the enormous resources available to the government could undermine the credibility of the electoral process.
Responding to the Presidency’s criticism, the former Archbishop of Abuja said the bishops visited the President under a spiritual and moral mandate to speak on behalf of Nigerians rather than to advance the interests of the Catholic Church.
“We didn’t go there just as Catholic bishops pushing the Catholic agenda. No. We went there as people who are with the spiritual mandate to speak to anybody in the name of God,” he said.
Onaiyekan said he would not respond directly to the comments from the Presidency, maintaining that the only response the bishops were expecting was evidence that their concerns were influencing the conduct of government.
“I would not even answer that question. We have no response for them. We have spoken, and the only response we are waiting for is whether it is affecting the way they are governing,” he said.
“That some of the supporters of the government and the state and spokespersons may have their own idea about what they think they should be saying on behalf of their principal is their business, not mine.”
He added that Nigerians had already expressed their views extensively on social media, making a further response from him unnecessary.
“As for response to the things we are hearing, I don’t even have to say anything because the social media is full of responses from Nigerian people, and that for me is more than enough,” he stated.
The Cardinal explained that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference initiated the meeting and waited several months before its request for an audience with the President was approved.
He said the meeting was not an evangelistic mission or an attempt to convert Tinubu to Christianity but an opportunity for the bishops to express their concerns about governance and the welfare of citizens.
“The bishops visited President Tinubu last week, and we requested an audience. It took some months before we were granted the audience, and we prepared to see him,” he said.
“The main reason we wanted to see him was not to go on an evangelical mission. We didn’t go there to preach to him and try to see whether we could convert him to our Catholic Church.”
According to Onaiyekan, the bishops went to the State House to share their views about the administration and hoped their recommendations would be considered.
“We went there to share our views and thoughts about the government which he heads, hoping that our ideas will be taken into consideration. So, that is what took us to the State House,” he said.
Onaiyekan expressed hope that the dialogue between the government and the Catholic bishops would not end with the July 28 meeting.
“We are hoping that our meeting with the President, or our dialogue with the Government of Nigeria, did not end with that visit,” he said.
He disclosed that the bishops were expecting the government to create another opportunity for a more detailed discussion, noting that their presentation to the President lasted only about 10 minutes.
“We are hoping that somehow he will invite us, not necessarily to meet him—I mean President Tinubu—but at least to open up avenues for us to give more information and more concerns that we have than we could give in the 10-minute talk that we gave to him,” he stated.
Onaiyekan also rejected suggestions that the bishops were acting with partisan motives, stressing that their collective document was unanimously approved and was not his personal position.
“I have told you already that I am not even prepared to start engaging anybody. Don’t forget that I was not defending my thesis. The document was prepared by the bishops of Nigeria, and we are a big number, and it was passed unanimously,” he said.
The Cardinal maintained that Catholic bishops had no political ambitions and were prohibited by the Church from participating in partisan politics.
“We don’t have any political ambitions for anything. Even our Church does not allow us to get engaged in party politics. So, even if I wanted to be a presidential candidate, I can’t be,” he said.
Onaiyekan urged the government to focus on the substance of the bishops’ concerns rather than the personalities presenting them.
Speaking on the economy, he acknowledged the administration’s reliance on macroeconomic statistics but argued that the true measure of government performance should be the lived experience of ordinary Nigerians.
He said economic success should not be determined solely by Gross Domestic Product figures, World Bank assessments or other statistical indicators when citizens continued to face hardship.
“If we admit that the role of government is the welfare of citizens, then it means we are not going to judge the success of our government on the basis of the statistics from GDP, from the World Bank, or whatever,” he said.
“The important thing is: how is the life of the Nigerian?”
Onaiyekan maintained that the bishops’ intervention was rooted in their pastoral obligation to speak about the welfare, security and dignity of Nigerians and expressed hope that the administration would respond through better governance rather than public criticism.
The book also examines Nigeria's legal ecosystem, focusing on the LPELR and NBA AI Guidelines. As a bonus, every purchase comes with a FREE eBook titled: How to Use the AI Features in LegalPedia and LawPavilion.
Ohio Books Ltd praises the publication, stating:
"....this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic."
How to Order:
📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878
📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com
🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626
Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACIarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.
_______________________________________________________________________
“Order Justice Omolaye-Ajileye’s Electronic Evidence Books Now” — Essential Guides On Evidence Act, Case Law And Digital Proof
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
LAWBREED — Equipping You For Greater Success!
_______________________________________________________________________
