Presidency Fires Back At Catholic Bishops

According to Ireporter Online, a fresh disagreement has emerged between the Presidency and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria following revelations about a recent closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Presidency criticised comments made by the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, describing his public disclosure of discussions from the private meeting as inappropriate and inconsistent with the confidentiality expected during such engagements.

In a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, the Presidency defended President Tinubu’s response to concerns raised by the bishops, insisting that their assessment of the nation’s economy, security and governance reflected only one perspective and was open to scrutiny based on available facts.

The reaction followed Cardinal Onaiyekan’s appearance on a television programme, where he disclosed that members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference informed the President that worsening economic hardship, insecurity and concerns about democratic governance were negatively affecting Nigerians. According to the cleric, President Tinubu disagreed with the assessment and maintained that his administration was making measurable progress.

Onaiyekan explained that the document presented to the President reflected the collective position of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference after extensive consultations and multiple reviews. He stressed that the bishops had no political ambitions but considered it their moral responsibility to speak on issues affecting the welfare of Nigerians.

He stated that the delegation informed the President that some of the government’s economic policies were increasing the burden on ordinary citizens, adding that although Tinubu rejected their conclusions, the bishops believed they had fulfilled their responsibility by presenting the realities confronting the country.

The cardinal further suggested that the President appeared dissatisfied with the presentation and alleged that some individuals around him continued to provide an overly optimistic picture of the nation’s condition instead of the realities experienced by many Nigerians.

Responding, Ajayi argued that while the bishops highlighted existing challenges, they gave insufficient recognition to the achievements recorded under the Tinubu administration, including improvements in salary and pension payments across several states and reforms aimed at stabilising the economy.

He noted that the President patiently listened to the bishops during the meeting before presenting evidence to support his position that the country was making gradual progress despite persistent economic and security challenges.

Ajayi maintained that disagreements over national issues should not be interpreted as arrogance, stressing that the President acknowledged the country’s difficulties while insisting that his administration had laid the foundation for economic recovery and improved governance.

The presidential aide also argued that Tinubu’s understanding of the country’s situation is informed by intelligence reports, security briefings, consultations and other official information unavailable to the general public.

He added that while the Catholic Bishops remain an important voice in national discourse, they are not the sole authority on the realities facing the country or the only custodians of public opinion.