Cardinal Onaiyekan not impartial, he took sides in 2023 — Wike
FCT Minister Questions Cardinal Onaiyekan’s Neutrality Following Election Remarks
Nigerian Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has raised concerns regarding the impartiality of Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja. Wike’s comments come in the wake of Onaiyekan’s statements after a recent meeting between President Bola Tinubu and members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
During a media briefing on Tuesday, Wike expressed his view that Onaiyekan demonstrated a lack of neutrality during the recent 2023 general election. This criticism follows the cardinal’s interview where he claimed that some individuals surrounding President Tinubu were presenting a “rosy picture” of the nation and suggested that the President was prioritizing preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
The Presidency responded to Onaiyekan’s remarks by criticizing his disclosure of details from the private meeting, labeling the action as an abuse of privilege.
Wike argued for a balanced approach from religious leaders, stating that persistent criticism without acknowledgment of government achievements could be perceived as politically motivated. “If a religious leader is perceived to be taking a side, it is very difficult for the public to regard those comments as constructive,” he remarked.
While acknowledging the right to criticize the government when necessary, Wike emphasized the importance of also highlighting successes. “It’s not every time you say things are bad; nobody has heard you say government has done this well,” he stated. He stressed the significance of religious leaders offering commendations where due while also addressing areas needing improvement.
He cautioned that consistently negative public statements by respected figures could lead the government to view such criticisms as politically charged rather than objective. When prompted about the bishops’ purported neutrality, Wike maintained that many religious leaders had openly supported candidates during the last presidential election.
“Don’t tell me they’re not partisan. People took sides, and it was very open,” he asserted. Wike concluded that it would be naive to believe that such alignments did not influence their current positions.
