Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, has strongly condemned attacks on His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), accusing the Presidency and its supporters of declaring war on the truth.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Obi reacted to the vicious verbal assaults directed at Cardinal Onaiyekan and the CBCN following their recent comments on Nigeria’s deepening economic hardship, insecurity, and the suffering of ordinary citizens.
Obi noted that Nigeria’s challenges continue to worsen, referencing a recent description of the country by United States President Donald Trump as “a now disgraced country.” He warned that the situation is further aggravated when a government becomes intolerant of truth and hostile to those who speak about the people’s suffering.
“The Catholic Church has never functioned as an opposition party in Nigeria. Across military regimes and successive democratic administrations, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has maintained a principled voice on national issues and the nation’s conscience,” Obi stated. He emphasised that the Church’s interventions are rooted in Christian social teaching and a moral obligation to defend truth, justice, and the common good.
The former Anambra State governor described the attacks on Cardinal Onaiyekan as deeply troubling, noting that the respected cleric was targeted with little regard for his age, stature, and decades of service to peace, interfaith dialogue, scholarship, and national unity.
“Rather than address these concerns or explain the measures in place to ameliorate them, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s aides and supporters responded with vicious attacks, particularly against Cardinal John Onaiyekan,” Obi said. “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.”
Obi stressed that the CBCN did not insult the President but simply reflected the painful realities confronting Nigerians. He called on the Tinubu administration to embrace constructive criticism rather than vilify those who raise legitimate national concerns.
He urged the government to respond thoughtfully to the issues raised by religious leaders and other concerned voices instead of resorting to personal attacks that weaken public discourse and reveal an unhealthy intolerance of criticism.