“The Catholic Bishops That Visited Are Different From The Fake Ones You Know” – Atiku Mocks Tinubu, Condemns Attack On Onaiyekan

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar  has flayed the Presidency over what he described as its growing tendency for intolerance of constructive criticisms.

Abubakar, a former Vice President of Nigeria, spoke against the backdrop of the Presidency’s attack on the Archbishop Emiretus of Abuja Catholic Diocese , John Cardinal Onaiyekan over his assessment of the President BolaTinubu’s administration.

On an Arise Television unterview on Friday, Onaiyekan, who was part of the Catholic Bishops that paid a courtesy visit to the President expressed regrets that Tinubu did not only dismiss their concern about the disturbing state of affairs in the country with a wave of the hand, but, also, alerted that he is bent on snatching victory at all costs in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.

According to Onaiyekan, President Tinubu and the Government officials during the meeting with the visiting Catholic leaders, were visibly uncomfortable and unhappy with them for their unflattering disposition.

He emphasized that from the countenance of the President, he was not used to such level of candour that characterized the message from the Bishops.

In response, the Presidency, through the duo of Daniel Bwala and Temitope Ajayi on Saturday pilloried the retired Catholic Cleric, describing his position as not only biased, but unreflective of the collective thinking of the country’s Christian community.

Particularly, the two presidential spokespersons accused the Archbishop Emiretus of working for the political interest of the Presidential flag bearer of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, a Catholic faithful.

Ajayi ,the Special Assistant to the president on Media and Publicity also accused Onaiyekan of overstepping the boundaries when he engaged in dissecting what officially transpired during the President’s meeting with the Catholic Clerics.

But Atiku, in a statement signed on Sunday, by Phrank Shuaibu, his spokesperson, chastised the Presidency for  engaging in an unmitigated political attacks, rather than reflecting on the substance and import of  Onaiyekan’s candid message.

The ADC Presidential Candidate noted that the Presidency’s reaction is an indication that it is only used to listening to “fake Bishops”, insisting that those who came calling last week are known for always speaking truth to power.

“Perhaps the Presidency has become so accustomed to inviting  “fake bishops” that it now assumes every Cleric can be recruited into political propaganda.

“But Catholic Bishops are different. They are not political props, rented cheerleaders, or praise singers.

“They are shepherds with a moral obligation to speak truth to power, regardless of whose interests are bruised. They cannot be used”, Abubakar stated.

According to him, it is on record that the Catholic Clerics have always served as a moral voice for the poor and vulnerable citizens, and a moral compass for the society not minding who is occupying the presidential Villa.

While lauding the Catholic Bishops for their candour, Abubakar described the Presidency’s response as arrogant and unbecoming of  Government.

Describing Cardinal Onaiyekan’s decision to speak after the Bishops’ Aso Rock Villa visit as meant to put their message in proper perspective, Abubakar accused Presidential spokespersons of wilfully attempting to distor, cancel and re-write the engagement the Bishops had with the President, with a view to spewing narratives favourable to the Government.