Cardinal Onaiyekan: You insulted bishops, Catholic church – Amaechi tackles Tinubu, Presidency
Amaechi Accuses Tinubu of Insulting Catholic Church Leadership
The presidential running mate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has criticized President Bola Tinubu and his media team for what he described as insults directed toward Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, and the Catholic Church.
Amaechi’s remarks came in response to comments made by Onaiyekan following a meeting with Tinubu and the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria. The archbishop’s statements have drawn significant backlash from the presidency.
During an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Amaechi disapproved of the presidency’s reaction, asserting that Onaiyekan should receive the respect afforded to a state governor.
“Most bishops are equivalent to a governor of a state,” Amaechi stated, explaining that the bishop of the Port Harcourt diocese oversees the same geographical area as the governor of Rivers State. He cited similar comparisons for bishops in other regions, emphasizing that their roles carry significant authority.
Amaechi further criticized the president’s approach to political discourse. “When the president claims that all is fair in politics, does that mean violence against voters is acceptable?” he questioned, highlighting the public nature of such presidential meetings.
“Every public meeting with the president is public; once cameras are present, it is no longer private,” he added. “If the president desires a private meeting, there would be no cameras or extra individuals.”
He concluded by asserting that the actions of the president and his team constitute an insult to both his faith and the Catholic Church, insisting that the significance of a cardinal’s role cannot be understated. “A cardinal is someone who could have been a pope or has voted for popes,” Amaechi remarked.
