Bwala Hits Back at Onaiyekan, Says Cardinal Is ‘More Political Than Spiritual

Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, has criticised Cardinal John Onaiyekan over his remarks on the Tinubu administration, accusing the former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja of being “more political than spiritual.”

Bwala’s response follows comments by Onaiyekan, who said the federal government appeared “more interested in winning the 2027 elections by all means” than in improving the welfare of Nigerians.

The cardinal made the remarks after the leadership of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), led by its President, Archbishop Matthew Ndagoso, met with President Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.

During the meeting, President Tinubu defended his administration’s economic policies, insisting that key reforms are beginning to stabilise the economy.

Speaking later on Prime Time, an Arise Television programme, Onaiyekan said the president and members of his team “did not look very happy” with the bishops’ address, suggesting it differed from the type of feedback the administration was accustomed to receiving.

‘He Wasn’t Speaking for All Christians’

Reacting in a post on X on Saturday, Bwala dismissed the cardinal’s comments as partisan, arguing that they do not reflect the views of Nigeria’s Christian community as a whole.

He alleged that the Catholic Church was among the institutions that backed Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer for the 2027 presidential race.

“Cardinal Onaiyekan wasn’t speaking for Christians; he was speaking for Catholics, the very institutions rooting for Peter Obi. In fact, likely the institution where Peter Obi also said in 2022, ‘take back your country,'” Bwala wrote.

“Therefore, the cardinal is more political than spiritual. And not all Catholic members are supporting Peter Obi.”

He maintained that President Tinubu was justified in rejecting the bishops’ assessment of the country’s economy, arguing that the administration’s position is supported by economic data and official statistics.

“The president was well within his right to disagree with their assertion as regards Nigeria’s economy based purely on facts, statistics and numbers put into context,” he added.

Bwala Defends Government’s Economic Narrative

The presidential aide also took issue with Onaiyekan’s portrayal of the country’s economic realities, arguing that Catholic clergy often encourage believers to make positive declarations despite difficult circumstances.

“Ironically, the same priest would rebuke their members if the members said, ‘we are suffering or we are poor.’ They would tell them to rather say, ‘we are doing great’ or ‘we are rich’ even when they are suffering or poor,” Bwala said.

He further argued that the broader Christian community, including the Catholic Church and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, should remain politically neutral.

“There is a body comprising all Christians, including the Catholics and Catholic Bishops’ Conference, and that body’s position is neutral and should be so; otherwise, it is political,” he stated.