Like The Presidency, Wike Accuses Cardinal Onaiyekan Of Partisanship

By Suleiman Anyalewechi 

The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister Nyesom Wike, has said that he was not surprised at the disposition of the Catholic Archbishop Emiretus of Abuja Diocese John Cardinal Onaiyekan towards the President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

For him, it has never been in doubt who the revered Cleric is working for within the political circle.

The Source reports that Onaiyekan who was part of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, that visited President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa had, in the last couple of days, been in the news for his downright dissecting of what transpired during the visit.

According to him, the President did not only dismiss with a wave of the hand the frank, altruistic and patriotic concerns of the Bishops about the state of affairs in the country, he, also, disturbingly showed manifest signs of desperation to cling to power at all costs.

Although the Presidency has since joined issues with the Cardinal, describing his position as biased, not a few Nigerians, including both the Christian and Muslim community, and people of other faiths have declared their support for  Onaiyekan and the CBCN.

But speaking during his monthly media chat on Tuesday, Wike, re-echoing the Presidency’s position, accused Onaiyekan of being partisan.

According to the him, it is a fact known to everyone in the country that Onaiyekan has a soft spot for a particular candidate, and political party, noting that comments from supposed religious leaders could make them lose their moral weight once they are perceived to be biased.

While acknowledging the constitutionally guaranteed rights of Clerics to freedom of expression, Wike  expressed serious concern that interventions from religious leaders tend to attract scrutiny when there are widespread beliefs that the commentator is coming from a particular political camp.

“If a religious leader is perceived or seen to be taking sides, and it is very clear, it becomes difficult for people to see those comments as helpful or real.

“I am aware of Cardinal Onaiyekan’s political leaning. It is not hidden who he supports. Everybody knows that” Wike noted .

This is as he stated that what is playing out now within the political horizon is similar to the situation in 2023  when many religious leaders took sides with certain political interests.

However ,Wike’s assessment sharply contrast with popular belief among many observers to the effect that the Archbishop Emiretus has, over the years, been known to speak truth to power, even during the dreaded military era.

They, also, recall that Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, who recently spoke in support of President Tinubu was, publicly, very critical of then President Goodluck Jonathan’s Government. They note, with nostalgia, that no Aide of Jonathan’s including Ministers, dared talk down on Adeboye. They, also, recall that, at a point, Cardinal Onaiyekan was, also, critical of Jonathan, but received no condescending tackle from any government quarters.