The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticised Cardinal John Onaiyekan over his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying religious leaders risk losing credibility if they are perceived as partisan.
Wike stated this during the August edition of his monthly media chat, aired live on TVC on Tuesday.
He was reacting to the controversy surrounding the recent meeting between Tinubu and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria.
The minister said he had no objection to religious leaders criticising governments but argued that such criticism should be balanced by acknowledging areas where an administration has performed well.
“I have always said this, particularly to religious leaders. And I’m honest in this matter. I am not against comments about government, because if comments are not made about government, government may not be able to know areas where they should concentrate or focus.
“Therefore, government is available to receive comments. But when comments are made by a particular section consistently, government becomes… not even government, even individuals, because they are careful,” Wike said.
He argued that religious leaders should avoid creating the impression that they consistently oppose a particular administration.
“If you are a religious leader, and it is perceived or seen you are taking a side, which is very clear, it becomes difficult for people to begin to see those comments as being helpful or real.
“I am aware of the position of Cardinal Onaiyekan. All of us know; it’s not hidden. His position… who he supported. Everybody knows that,” he said.
When the interviewer responded that she did not know whom the cardinal supported, Wike maintained that the cleric’s disposition towards the government had been consistently negative.
“You don’t every time say things are bad, things are bad. Nobody has heard him say one day government has done this well.
“The point I’m trying to make is that, as a leader, commend government when government has done well on some areas. Criticise government that, ‘Look, yes, you have done this well, this well, this well. But we think that you should look into these other areas.’
“But if your comments are every time nothing positive, then government must worry about you. Government will begin to think that you are merely criticising because you’re opposed to the government,” he said.
Wike also rejected suggestions that religious leaders remained politically neutral during the 2023 general election.
“Don’t tell me non-partisans, no. Don’t tell me that. You know what happened in the 2023 election. People took sides—religious leaders took sides. It was very open.
“It would look… it would be stupid to sit here for anybody to tell me this person is impartial. No. We know ourselves in this country. We know who belongs to where,” he said.
Asked what religious leaders stood to gain by taking political positions, Wike replied, “Who did they support in 2023? It was very obvious. They made it clear.
“What I’m saying—there’s nothing wrong in that. But the point I’m saying is that you cannot be seen consistently holding just one view about the government.”
Wike’s remarks come days after a public disagreement between the Presidency and the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, over the state of the nation.
The controversy followed Onaiyekan’s interview on Arise Television after a closed-door meeting between President Tinubu and a delegation of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria on July 28.
The cardinal said the bishops raised concerns over worsening economic hardship, insecurity and governance, adding that the President disagreed with their assessment and insisted the country was making progress.
The Presidency subsequently defended Tinubu’s position, with presidential aides Temitope Ajayi and Daniel Bwala accusing the bishops of presenting only one perspective and suggesting that some church leaders had taken partisan positions during the 2023 election.
However, African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, condemned the Presidency’s criticism of Onaiyekan and demanded an apology to the cardinal and the Catholic Church.
Atiku accused the administration of attempting to discredit respected religious leaders instead of addressing the issues they raised about the country’s economy, security and governance.
