Shehu Sani Scolds Presidency, Says Catholic Bishops Speak Truth To Power

Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani has thrown his weight behind the Catholic Bishops, describing them as one of the conscience of the nation, a moral compass who have never hesitated to speak truth to power.
Senator Sani’s remarks come amid a growing debate over recent comments by Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the former Archbishop of Abuja, on the performance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time, Onaiyekan revealed that members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, during a recent meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, expressed concern over the worsening economic hardship facing millions of Nigerians. He also alleged that the President was not receiving an accurate picture of the realities confronting ordinary citizens.
The cardinal further warned that the administration’s determination to secure victory in the 2027 general election “by all means” could raise concerns about the credibility of the electoral process, given the advantages of incumbency and access to state resources.
The comments sparked an immediate reaction from the Presidency. Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, dismissed the cleric’s remarks as politically coloured, arguing that Onaiyekan spoke for Catholics alone and not for the wider Christian community. He also defended President Tinubu’s assessment of the economy, insisting it was backed by verifiable facts and official statistics.
Joining the conversation, Shehu Sani rejected suggestions that the Catholic Bishops had become partisan. In a post on his X account, the former lawmaker said the bishops have maintained a consistent tradition of challenging leaders, from the days of military rule through successive democratic administrations.
According to Sani, the Catholic Bishops have always placed truth above politics, regardless of who occupies the nation’s highest office.
“They have never been partisan,” he wrote, adding that every president they have visited receives a gift of bitter kola rather than olive oil—a symbolic gesture reflecting their commitment to offering honest counsel instead of praise.