Cardinal Onaiyekan Says Catholic Wouldn’t Trade Words With Presidency

Cardinal Onaiyekan Says Catholic Wouldn’t Trade Words With Presidency

Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, says the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) will not engage in a public war of words with the Presidency over its recent message on the state of the nation.

Speaking in response to the Presidency’s criticism of the bishops’ communiqué, Onaiyekan said the Church had fulfilled its moral responsibility by speaking on issues affecting Nigerians and had no intention of exchanging insults or arguments with government officials. He stressed that the bishops’ message was not aimed at attacking the government but at drawing attention to the country’s challenges and encouraging those in authority to take corrective action.

The cleric added that the Catholic Church would continue to pray for Nigeria and offer constructive advice whenever necessary, maintaining that its interventions are guided by the public interest rather than politics. He urged the government to focus on addressing insecurity, economic hardship and other pressing national issues instead of reacting defensively to criticism.

Onaiyekan reaffirmed that the Church remains committed to promoting peace, justice and good governance, insisting that its mission is to speak the truth with love while working for the common good of all Nigerians.

– Daily Times