By Precious Mark
The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has cautioned President Bola Tinubu’s administration against intimidating religious bodies and faith leaders who speak out against economic hardship and insecurity in the country.
Speaking on Wednesday, Obi criticized presidential aides for launching verbal attacks against the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and the Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan.
“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 has maintained a principled voice on national issues and the nation’s conscience, commending governments when they deserved commendation and speaking the truth whenever national conscience demanded it,” Obi said.
He further pointed out that major religious bodies such as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN), and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) consistently raise concerns over public suffering because their leaders live directly among the people.
“They speak because they witness families struggling with rising food prices, unemployment, and the fear created by kidnappings and insecurity,” Obi explained.
Describing the attacks on Cardinal Onaiyekan as deeply troubling, Obi highlighted the cleric’s long record of contribution to peace, scholarly excellence, and interfaith dialogue.
“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, with little regard for his age, stature, and accomplishments.”
“Resorting to personal attacks against him weakens public discourse and reveals an unhealthy intolerance of criticism in today’s Nigerian political space,” Obi added.
Reflecting on his tenure as Governor of Anambra State, Obi recalled how working closely with traditional rulers and religious institutions shaped the achievements of his administration in key sectors.
“As leaders, we should be gracious enough to listen to people and organisations that speak the truth to us and genuinely criticise us when things are not going in the right direction.”
“During my tenure as Governor of Anambra State, I maintained a similar philosophy. I expected cabinet members to bring me problems, not compliments, because only honest feedback could lead to solutions,” Obi revealed.
He maintained that the bishops acted in good faith to reflect the realities facing everyday Nigerians, adding that true leadership requires listening to constructive feedback rather than silencing critics.
“The CBCN did not insult the President and can never do so, given the calibre of the people who make up the Conference, some of the finest among Nigerians. It gave voice to the suffering of Nigerians.”
“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 concluded.