The Presidency has rejected recent remarks by Cardinal John Onaiyekan criticising President Bola Tinubu’s administration, arguing that the Catholic cleric was voicing a personal and political view rather than representing Nigeria’s broader Christian community.
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, made the comments in a post on his X account on Saturday, 1 August 2026.
His response followed Onaiyekan’s criticism of the government after the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) visited the President.
The cardinal had accused the administration of prioritising victory “by all means” over tackling the nation’s challenges.Bwala countered that Onaiyekan was speaking for the Catholic Church, not all Christians, and alleged that the institution largely supported Labour Party candidate Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election.
He noted, however, that not every Catholic backed Obi.Bwala described the cardinal’s comments as more political than spiritual.
He defended President Tinubu’s right to reject the bishops’ assessment of the economy,
