‘Onaiyekan supports nobody’ - Amaechi counters Wike’s claim
Amaechi Defends Cardinal Onaiyekan Against Political Allegations
Former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, now vice presidential candidate for the African Democratic Party (ADC), has come to the defense of Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja. Amaechi contends that the cardinal maintains a position of political neutrality and does not endorse any politician.
His remarks were made during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday. This followed statements by Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, who suggested that Cardinal Onaiyekan exhibited bias during the 2023 general election.
Amaechi revealed he paused his period of traditional mourning for his late mother to participate in the program, emphasizing the importance of defending his Christian beliefs in light of the controversy surrounding the cardinal.
In response to Wike’s allegations, Amaechi characterized Cardinal Onaiyekan as politically neutral. “He supports nobody. I see Cardinal Onaiyekan regularly; I worship at his chapel. He has no political leaning, and the Catholic Church does not endorse any political stance,” Amaechi stated.
He added that discussions with the cardinal have led him to believe that Onaiyekan’s primary concerns center around the deteriorating socio-economic conditions in Nigeria rather than political affiliations. “The only thing that pains him is the level of indiscretion and poverty in the country,” Amaechi said.
Conversely, Wike had previously questioned the cardinal’s impartiality, particularly following remarks made during a meeting with President Bola Tinubu and members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria. At a media event on Tuesday, Wike expressed concerns that the cardinal’s frequent criticisms of the government undermine perceptions of his neutrality.
“If a religious leader is perceived to be taking a side, it is very difficult for people to view those comments as constructive,” Wike remarked. He further asserted, “I am aware of Cardinal Onaiyekan’s position; it is well understood whom he supports; everybody knows that.”
