The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 general election, Peter Obi, has condemned what he described as attacks by the President Bola Tinubu administration on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and Cardinal John Onaiyekan, saying even the late military dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha, never resorted to such actions.

Recall that last week Tuesday, the leadership of the CBCN, led by Matthew Ndagoso, met Tinubu at the presidential villa, where the bishops raised concerns over worsening economic hardship, insecurity and state of the nation.

President Tinubu defended his administration’s economic reforms, saying the economy is stabilising and that the era of prolonged strikes by university lecturers had ended.

The meeting later sparked public debate after the former archbishop of Abuja archdiocese said on Arise Television that Tinubu was unhappy with the message delivered by the bishops, who told him that the country is “bleeding” and that worsening economic conditions were hurting poor Nigerians.

Daniel Bwala, the special adviser to the president on policy communication, subsequently faulted Onaiyekan’s remarks, saying they did not represent the views of all Christians, and alleged that the Catholic Church was backing Peter Obi.

Meanwhile, Obi, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said the Catholic Church had consistently served as the nation’s moral conscience and should not be treated as an opposition platform for speaking out on insecurity, poverty, inflation and other challenges confronting Nigerians.

He expressed concern over what he called growing intolerance of criticism by the Federal Government, insisting that religious leaders had a duty to speak on issues affecting the welfare of citizens.

“Against this background, the attacks on the CBCN, and especially on His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, are deeply troubling. Even in 1998, when Pope John Paul II visited Nigeria and told General Abacha some hard truths, including about the incarceration of Chief Moshood Abiola, nobody vilified him,” Obi said.

According to the former Anambra State governor, the Catholic Bishops merely reflected the daily realities faced by millions of Nigerians, including worsening insecurity, deepening poverty, rising inflation, unemployment and declining hope.

“The bishops merely expressed what millions of Nigerians experience daily: insecurity has worsened, poverty is deepening, inflation is crippling families, businesses are struggling, and hope is fading,” he stated.

Obi argued that the Catholic Church had, over the years, criticised both military and civilian administrations, including those of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, without being branded enemies of the government.

He also noted that Muslim organisations, including Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), had repeatedly raised concerns over the country’s economic and security situation.

He faulted presidential aides for portraying the bishops’ intervention as a religious matter instead of responding to the issues they raised.

“The question is: are insecurity, poverty, inflation, unemployment and hardship problems exclusive to a particular faith? Do these challenges recognise religious or tribal boundaries?” he asked.

Obi further criticised what he described as contradictory conduct by the Tinubu administration, recalling that the President had travelled to Rome ahead of the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV and publicly demonstrated respect for the Catholic Church.

“Back in Nigeria, however, that posture has now changed completely,” he said.

The former governor particularly defended Cardinal Onaiyekan, describing him as one of Africa’s most respected clerics with an outstanding record of scholarship, peacebuilding, interfaith dialogue and national service.

“Resorting to personal attacks against him weakens public discourse and reveals an unhealthy intolerance of criticism in today’s Nigerian political space,” Obi said.

He warned that governments which surround themselves with praise singers risk becoming disconnected from the realities confronting ordinary citizens.

“Good governance depends on truth. When governments punish truth-tellers and reward sycophants with appointments, honest advisers withdraw, sycophancy thrives, and leaders become disconnected from reality,” he stated.

Obi maintained that the CBCN did not insult President Tinubu but merely highlighted the hardship Nigerians were enduring, urging the Federal Government to address the issues rather than attack those who raised them.

“The proper response was to thoughtfully address the issues raised, not attack those who raised them. When respected figures like Cardinal Onaiyekan are vilified for speaking the truth, the message sent to citizens is that silence is safer than honesty. No democracy can flourish under such a culture,” he added.