The Presidency has responded to comments by Cardinal John Onaiyekan criticising the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying the cleric was speaking a personal and political opinion and not for all Christians in Nigeria.
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, stated this in a post on his X account on Saturday.Bwala was reacting to Onaiyekanβs remarks following the Catholic Bishopsβ Conference of Nigeria, CBCNβs recent visit to the President.
The cardinal had accused the government of prioritizing winning elections βby all meansβ over tackling the countryβs challenges.In his response, Bwala said Onaiyekan was speaking for the Catholic Church, not the entire Christian community.
He claimed the Catholic institution largely backed Labour Party candidate Peter Obi in the 2023 election.βCardinal Onaiyekan wasnβt speaking for Christians, he was speaking for Catholics, the very institution rooting for Peter Obi,β Bwala wrote.
βIn fact, likely the institution where Peter Obi also said in 2022 βtake back your country.β Therefore, Cardinal is more political than spiritual.βBwala also noted that not all Catholics voted for Obi, and said President Tinubu was right to disagree with the bishopsβ assessment of the economy.
According to him, the administrationβs position is supported by βfacts, stats and numbers factored into context.βThe presidential aide further accused the clergy of double standards, alleging that the same priests who criticize government would tell their members to say βwe are doing greatβ even amid hardship.
βThere is a body comprising all Christians including the Catholics and Catholic Bishops Conference and that bodyβs position is neutral and should be so, otherwise it is political,β he added.
