According to a report by DAILY POST on Saturday 1 August 2026, the Presidency has pushed back against criticism from Cardinal John Onaiyekan over the performance of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stating that the Catholic cleric was expressing a personal opinion and not speaking on behalf of all Christians in Nigeria.
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, made the remarks in a post on his X handle on Saturday while reacting to comments made by the former Archbishop of Abuja following the recent visit of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) to President Tinubu.
Onaiyekan had accused the administration of placing greater emphasis on political victory than on addressing the country’s pressing economic and social challenges.
Responding, Bwala argued that the cardinal’s position reflected political views rather than a collective Christian stance; He claimed that many Catholic institutions openly supported Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election, adding that such support should not be mistaken for the position of the wider Christian community.
He also stressed that not every Catholic voted for or supported Obi, insisting that President Tinubu had every right to reject the bishops’ assessment of the economy; According to him, the administration’s response is based on available facts, statistics, and economic data.
Bwala further maintained that Christianity in Nigeria consists of several denominations beyond the Catholic Church and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference; He said national Christian bodies are expected to remain non-partisan and avoid taking political positions.
The presidential aide concluded that while religious leaders are free to express their opinions, such views should not be presented as representing all Christians in the country…See_More
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