Archbishop John Cardinal Onaiyekan has said he was not surprised that President Bola Tinubu appeared unhappy during a meeting with members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the State House in Abuja.
According to a report by Arise News on Saturday, August 1, 2026, Onaiyekan explained that the bishops deliberately presented what they believed was the true state of Nigeria, including concerns about the economy, insecurity and the country’s political climate, instead of giving the President a favourable report.
According to him, many people around the President often paint a positive picture of the country, but the bishops believed they had a responsibility to present the realities Nigerians are facing. He said their goal was to help the President better understand the situation, even if the message was difficult to hear.
Onaiyekan said the President’s response showed that he clearly disagreed with the bishops’ assessment. However, he noted that the bishops expected such a reaction and were not disappointed because their duty was simply to deliver their message honestly.
He also expressed hope that people close to the President would encourage him to reflect on the concerns raised during the meeting. According to Onaiyekan, one of the country’s challenges is that too few people in government are willing to speak honestly to the President about the problems affecting ordinary Nigerians.
In his words, “You asked me what I saw on the face of the President in reaction. I was not surprised that he was not looking very happy, nor were his colleagues who were there…See_More
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