Onaiyekan to Presidency: We’ve Spoken, Now Focus on Better Governance
The Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has dismissed calls to respond to criticism from the Presidency, insisting that the Catholic Bishops have already delivered their message to President Bola Tinubu and are now waiting to see whether it translates into improved governance.
Speaking in an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Onaiyekan said the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) would not engage in a public war of words with government spokespersons following its recent meeting with President Tinubu.
The Cardinal stressed that the bishops’ intervention was not on behalf of Catholics alone but was driven by a moral responsibility to speak on issues affecting all Nigerians.
He said the bishops sought the meeting after months of waiting for presidential approval and used the opportunity to present their concerns over the country’s economic and security challenges, not to advance any religious or political agenda.
Reacting to criticisms from the Presidency, Onaiyekan said the bishops had no interest in exchanging statements with government officials, maintaining that the real test was whether the administration would act on the issues raised.
He also expressed hope that the Federal Government would create another opportunity for a more extensive dialogue with religious leaders on national challenges.
On the economy, the Cardinal argued that the success of any government should be measured by improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians rather than macroeconomic statistics, pointing to youth unemployment as one of the country’s most pressing concerns.
He warned that many graduates remain unable to secure jobs or build stable lives despite completing their education, urging the government to demonstrate the political will to govern with honesty, fairness and justice.
Onaiyekan further called for broader engagement between the Presidency and both Christian and Muslim leaders, saying a united conversation on Nigeria’s challenges would better serve the country’s interests.
