The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, have defended the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and John Cardinal Onaiyekan over their recent criticism of the Federal Government.
The duo said the bishops were only speaking truth to power and urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to embrace constructive criticism rather than attack those who raise concerns about the state of the nation.
The reaction followed criticism from the Presidency over Onaiyekan’s disclosure of issues discussed during a closed-door meeting between the Catholic bishops and President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
In a statement titled ‘When a Government Declares War on the Truth’, Obi warned that attacks on religious leaders who speak on national issues could weaken democratic values and shift attention away from the challenges confronting Nigerians.
The former Anambra State governor said the CBCN had never acted as an opposition platform but had consistently served as a moral voice on issues affecting the country under both military and civilian administrations.
Obi said the economic hardship, insecurity, inflation and unemployment facing Nigerians required leaders to engage sincerely with criticism rather than dismiss concerns raised by credible institutions.
He added that religious bodies, including the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN), Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), had similarly raised concerns about national challenges.
According to Obi, religious leaders often had direct contact with ordinary citizens and were therefore aware of the realities facing families affected by rising food prices, insecurity and unemployment.
Drawing from his time as Anambra State governor, Obi said constructive criticism from traditional and religious leaders helped his administration achieve progress, particularly in education and healthcare.
‘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,’ he said.
He also questioned what he described as a change in attitude towards the Catholic Church, recalling that President Tinubu had shown respect for the institution during the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV in Rome.
Obi said the issues raised by the bishops were not religious or ethnic concerns but challenges affecting Nigerians across different backgrounds, including insecurity, poverty, inflation and unemployment.
He urged government officials to focus on addressing the concerns raised instead of attacking respected religious figures.
Kwankwaso, on his part, praised the Catholic bishops for what he described as their courage and patriotism.
In a post on his verified X account, the former Kano State governor dismissed suggestions that the bishops’ comments on insecurity, rising living costs and hardship were politically motivated.
Kwankwaso said the concerns expressed by the clerics reflected the daily experiences of millions of Nigerians and called on leaders to prioritise solutions that improve citizens’ welfare.
He urged Nigerians to continue engaging governments constructively while calling on those in authority to embrace accountability and policies centred on security, prosperity and national development.