Archbishop John Cardinal Onaiyekan has revealed details of a closed-door meeting between President Bola Tinubu and members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), saying the bishops told the President that Nigeria was “bleeding,” but he disagreed with their assessment.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Cardinal Onaiyekan said he was not surprised that President Tinubu appeared unhappy during the meeting because the bishops presented a picture of the country that differed from what the President is often told.
“I was not surprised that he was not looking very happy,” Onaiyekan said.
According to the cleric, many people around the President paint an overly positive picture of the country’s situation instead of telling him the reality.
“There are so many people hanging around Mr. President giving him a rosy picture of what the country is, which it is not.”
Cardinal Onaiyekan said the bishops believed it was their responsibility to speak honestly about the country’s challenges rather than flatter the President.
“When the nation is bleeding, you can’t expect a polite meeting with the head of state. We need to let him know.”
He disclosed that the bishops raised concerns about the country’s economic situation, particularly its impact on ordinary Nigerians, but President Tinubu maintained that the economy was performing well.
“We told him our economy is not helping our poor people. He told us the economy is doing fine.”
The Archbishop said the President also rejected the bishops’ description of the country’s condition.
“His reply is that the nation is not bleeding.”
Despite the disagreement, Onaiyekan said the bishops considered the meeting worthwhile because they had discharged their responsibility by presenting their concerns directly to the President.
“We have done our duty, we have delivered our message.”
He added that he hopes the President will eventually reflect on the issues they raised.
“Somehow along the line, somebody will show him a few of the things we said.”
