Bwala fires back as Onaiyekan accuses Tinubu govt of prioritising 2027 victory over governance

A FRESH war of words has erupted between the presidency and the cardinal and former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Onaiyekan, after the cleric accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of focusing on winning the 2027 general election ‘by all means’ rather than addressing the country’s challenges.

Speaking on Prime Time, an Arise Television programme, Onaiyekan said the leadership of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) delivered a frank assessment of the nation’s condition during a recent meeting with President Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.

The delegation, led by CBCN President, Matthew Ndagoso, told the president that many Nigerians were facing economic hardship and that the country was ‘bleeding.’ According to Onaiyekan, Tinubu and members of his team appeared uncomfortable with the message because it contrasted sharply with the reports they usually receive.

The cardinal alleged that people around the president were presenting an overly optimistic picture of the country’s situation, making it difficult for him to appreciate the realities confronting ordinary Nigerians.

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“We felt it was our duty to tell him the truth about the state of the nation,” Onaiyekan said, adding that Tinubu made it clear during his response that he disagreed with the bishops’ assessment, insisting that Nigeria was not bleeding and that the economy was improving.

President Tinubu had, during the meeting, defended his administration’s economic reforms, saying the economy was stabilising and that prolonged strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had become a thing of the past. He also maintained that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) remained neutral and suggested that opposition politicians were unsettled by internal uncertainties.

Onaiyekan further claimed the Catholic bishops were worried that the administration appeared determined to retain power in 2027 by deploying the advantages available to it. He warned that the credibility of future elections would be at risk if the electoral process was not free and fair.

Bwala responds

The remarks drew a swift response from President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, who dismissed the cardinal’s comments as political rather than spiritual.

In a post on X on Saturday, Bwala argued that Onaiyekan was expressing the position of the Catholic Church, not that of the wider Christian community. He also alleged that the Catholic Church was among the institutions that backed Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in 2023 and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for the 2027 election.

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According to Bwala, the president was justified in rejecting the bishops’ assessment because his position was supported by economic data and official statistics showing improvements in the economy.

The presidential aide also criticised Onaiyekan’s comments on the country’s economic situation, saying Catholic clergy often encourage believers to make positive declarations even during difficult times.

He maintained that Christian organisations with nationwide representation should remain politically neutral, insisting that the broader Christian body, which includes the Catholic Church and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, should not be seen as taking sides in partisan politics.