Tinubu-Bishops’ meeting: Bwala says Onaiyekan spoke for Catholics, not Christians
Bwala Clarifies Cardinal Onaiyekan’s Remarks on National Issues
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, stated Monday that Cardinal John Onaiyekan’s recent comments regarding the state of the nation represent the views of Catholics, not the broader Christian community.
Bwala’s remarks came in response to a television interview featuring Cardinal Onaiyekan, which followed a meeting between the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria and President Tinubu. He suggested that the Cardinal’s statements should be interpreted in light of the Catholic institution’s previous support for Labour Party candidate Peter Obi during the 2023 general election.
“Cardinal Onaiyekan wasn’t speaking for Christians; he was speaking for Catholics, the very institution rooting for Peter Obi,” Bwala said. He emphasized that not all members of the Catholic faith share the Cardinal’s perspectives, underlining that such views do not necessarily reflect the opinions of all church members.
Bwala further defended President Tinubu’s disagreement with the bishops’ assessment of Nigeria’s economic situation, asserting that the President is justified in expressing a contrary view based on factual data.
“The President was well within his right to disagree with their assertion regarding Nigeria’s economy based purely on facts, statistics, and numbers put into context,” he noted.
The presidential aide also criticized perceived contradictions within certain religious teachings, specifically pointing out that some clerics encourage congregants to maintain a positive outlook despite personal hardships.
He asserted that the Christian community is vast and comprised of various denominations, all of which should maintain a position of neutrality. “There is a body comprising all Christians, including Catholics, and that body’s position should be neutral; otherwise, it risks becoming political,” Bwala stated.
