Nigerian President, Ahmed Tinubu’s comments to Catholic bishops during a closed-door State House meeting have triggered a fresh wave of criticism, including a striking rebuke from Accord Party’s Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim. The whole controversy stems from a July 28 meeting where the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria raised concerns over insecurity, economic hardship, and the state of Nigeria democracy.
According to Cardinal John Onaiyekan, who was also part of the delegation, President Tinubu rejected the bishops’ assessment outright, insisting his administration was making genuine progress. Tinubu reportedly suggested Nigerians struggling with hardship should seek assistance from churches, a remark opposition figure Ladipo Johnson called a low point in presidential communication.
After repeatedly listening to a recording of Tinubu’s remarks, Olawepo-Hashim stated the president he heard seemed markedly different from the man he knew between 2018 and 2021. He added that he felt the president’s public communication suggested he “may require genuine help,” while also stressing he wasn’t offering a medical diagnosis, and that he felt pity rather than anger toward Tinubu.
The CBCN’s position wasn’t Onaiyekan’s opinion but a formal document representing the bishops’ conference, drafted after extensive internal deliberations. The Presidency has since accused Onaiyekan of breaching the confidentiality of a closed-door meeting, with presidential aide, Daniel Bwala, arguing the bishops’ assessment reflected only one perspective open to scrutiny.
This fallout continues to divide reactions, with former senator Shehu Sani urging the bishops to also acknowledge Tinubu’s government achievements, while rights group HURIWA has defended Onaiyekan’s right to speak on issues affecting Nigerians.
