Former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of becoming overly focused on securing victory in the 2027 general elections rather than confronting the deepening hardship facing millions of Nigerians.
The cleric also alleged that people surrounding the President were presenting an unrealistic picture of the country, shielding him from the true extent of the economic and social crisis.
Speaking during an interview on Prime Time on Arise Television, Onaiyekan reflected on the recent meeting between the leadership of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.
He said the bishops deliberately presented an honest assessment of the nation’s condition, stressing that widespread poverty, rising living costs and growing public frustration could not be ignored.
According to the cardinal, the President openly disagreed with the bishops’ position, insisting that the economy was improving and that his administration was on the right track.
Onaiyekan, however, maintained that the President appeared uncomfortable with their frank message because it sharply contrasted with the optimistic reports he regularly receives from political associates.
The former archbishop warned that democracy would be endangered if elections were manipulated to favour those in power.
He alleged that the ruling establishment possessed enormous state resources capable of influencing future elections, cautioning that even a credible voting process could be undermined if citizens’ votes ultimately failed to determine the outcome.
He urged the government to prioritise national recovery over political calculations, warning that ignoring the suffering of ordinary Nigerians while concentrating on electoral victory could deepen public distrust and threaten the country’s democratic stability ahead of the 2027 polls.
