Wike Questions Onaiyekan’s Neutrality, Says Cardinal Took Sides in 2023 Election
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has challenged the neutrality of Cardinal John Onaiyekan, saying the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja openly took sides during the 2023 general election.
Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja, Wike reacted to the recent exchange between the Presidency and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria following the bishops’ meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
The FCT Minister argued that public comments by religious leaders should be balanced, warning that persistent criticism without acknowledging government achievements could be perceived as politically motivated.
According to Wike, while governments should be criticised where necessary, they should also receive recognition for policies and programmes that have delivered positive results.
He maintained that consistently negative remarks from respected public figures could lead the government to question the objectivity of such criticisms.
Rejecting suggestions that the Catholic bishops were non-partisan, Wike insisted that many religious leaders openly aligned with political candidates during the 2023 presidential election.
He said it was evident where Cardinal Onaiyekan’s political sympathies lay and argued that it would be misleading to portray the cleric as politically neutral.
Wike’s remarks come amid ongoing debate over comments made by Cardinal Onaiyekan after the Catholic Bishops’ Conference met President Tinubu, where the cleric urged the administration to focus on improving governance and addressing the concerns of ordinary Nigerians.
