Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has questioned the neutrality of the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, alleging that the cleric’s criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration is politically motivated.
Speaking during a media parley on Tuesday, Wike claimed that Cardinal Onaiyekan openly took sides during the 2023 general election, arguing that his recent comments on the current administration should be viewed in that context.
The FCT minister was responding to remarks made by the cleric after a recent meeting between President Tinubu and members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), during which Onaiyekan reportedly suggested that the President was receiving an overly positive assessment of the country’s situation and was already focused on the 2027 election.
Wike maintained that public interventions by religious leaders should be balanced, saying that constant criticism without acknowledging the government’s achievements could create the impression of political bias.
He further alleged that many people already know the political figures Cardinal Onaiyekan supports, insisting that his comments should be assessed against that background.
