They’re Hiding The Truth!” Cardinal Onaiyekan Says Tinubu Is Being Fed A Rosy Picture Of Nigeria

Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of Abuja, has expressed concern that President Bola Tinubu may not be receiving an accurate assessment of Nigeria’s economic realities from those closest to him.

The cleric made the remarks during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Friday while reflecting on a recent meeting between the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

According to Onaiyekan, the bishops raised concerns about the country’s worsening socio-economic conditions, but the President dismissed their observations. He noted that Tinubu’s response was unsurprising, saying it reflected the type of information the President regularly receives from members of his inner circle.

The cardinal argued that many of the President’s advisers and associates present an overly optimistic picture of the nation’s condition instead of conveying the challenges confronting ordinary Nigerians.

“The President rejected our concerns about the state of the country. Nigeria is bleeding,” Onaiyekan said.

He added that neither the President nor some officials present appeared pleased with the issues raised by the bishops, but stressed that the church had a responsibility to speak honestly.

“We understood that what we said was different from the reports the President usually receives, and that is one of our concerns,” he stated.

“There are many people around Mr President giving him a rosy picture of the country that does not reflect the reality. We believe it is our duty to help him understand the true situation facing Nigerians, even if it is not what he wants to hear.”

Onaiyekan maintained that the bishops’ objective was to present an honest assessment of conditions across the country, insisting that leaders can only address national challenges effectively when they are fully informed about the realities on the ground.