According to a report by Daily Post on August 1, 2026, Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu disagreed with the concerns presented by members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) during their recent meeting with him at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Onaiyekan made the revelation while appearing as a guest on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme, where he discussed the issues raised during the engagement between the Catholic leaders and the Nigerian president.
The cleric explained that the bishops attended the meeting to present their observations about the condition of the country and highlight the challenges affecting citizens.
According to him, the delegation considered it necessary to communicate its concerns directly to the president, regardless of whether the message would be welcomed by the government.
Onaiyekan said the bishops drew attention to the difficulties experienced by many Nigerians, particularly ordinary citizens struggling with economic pressures and other national challenges.
He noted that the concerns expressed by the religious leaders differed from some of the positive reports he believed were being presented to the president by government officials and advisers.
The former Abuja archbishop explained that the purpose of the meeting was not to seek approval from the president but to fulfil what he described as the responsibility of religious leaders to speak honestly about issues affecting society.
The meeting between President Tinubu and members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria had earlier attracted public attention, with discussions reportedly covering issues such as the economy, governance and the country’s democratic process.
During the engagement, President Tinubu was reported to have defended his administration’s policies, maintaining that Nigeria’s economy was improving and that government efforts were aimed at creating long-term solutions. He also reportedly expressed confidence in the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as preparations for future elections continue.
However, Onaiyekan stated that the president did not accept the bishops’ assessment of the country’s situation. He added that he was not surprised by the disagreement, explaining that the role of the church leaders was simply to present their perspective.
According to him, the bishops remained committed to expressing their concerns about the realities faced by Nigerians, even if their views differed from those of the government.
“The president rejected our concerns about the country. Nigeria is bleeding. I was not surprised that he was not looking very happy, not even his colleagues who were there,” Onaiyekan said…See_More
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