African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has condemned the Presidency’s attack on the Catholic Church and Cardinal John Onaiyekan, describing it as further evidence of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s growing intolerance of dissent and uncomfortable truths.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said it was unfortunate and dangerous that the Presidency chose intimidation, ridicule and political attacks instead of reflecting on the substance of the cleric’s message.
“The Catholic Church has, for generations, stood as one of the moral voices of our nation. Its bishops and priests have consistently spoken for the poor, the oppressed and the vulnerable, irrespective of who occupies Aso Rock. Their duty is not to flatter those in power but to speak truth to power,” the statement read.
Atiku noted that the Catholic Bishops demonstrated rare courage by confronting the President with the bitter truth about the state
