Cardinal John Onaiyekan has criticized Tinubu’s administration, declaring that the standard of living in Nigeria has plunged significantly in the last two years. Speaking at a media engagement in Abuja on Wednesday, the respected Catholic cleric warned that if the current trend continues, Tinubu will face rejection at the polls, provided elections are free and fair.
The Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, addressing journalists at a public lecture organized by the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria to mark Communication Week, said that citizens are struggling with unprecedented economic hardship and deteriorating security. “My advice for Mr. President is to find ways and means of finding out what Nigeria is actually going through but not from those around him who are always praising him to the skies,” Onaiyekan said.
He urged Tinubu to focus on policies that would raise the standard of living, particularly for low-income Nigerians, lamenting the disconnection between government rhetoric and the daily struggles of ordinary families. “He should also know how families are managing with ₦30,000 salary a month. Since it is the people that he should serve, he should do more to raise the level of well-being of Nigerians. I don’t think we are unfair to government if we say that in the last two years, our level of well-being has crashed considerably.”
The cardinal said Nigerians are growing weary of excuses from leadership and warned that continuation of the current trajectory would cost Tinubu any future electoral support. “If he continues like this for the rest of his term, if we have a free and fair election, he will not win because how can the country bring him back if we are not feeling good?”
He called on those in Tinubu’s inner circle to stop shielding him from the grim realities facing most Nigerians and instead give honest feedback. “I’m hoping that the people around Mr. President will give him that advice.”
Onaiyekan also emphasized that the time for electoral debates is over and that Tinubu should now fully focus on governance. He reminded the president that his victory had been affirmed by the courts, and therefore, nothing should prevent him from delivering on his promises. “The elections were over two years ago. He doesn’t have to worry again whether he won the election or not. The Supreme Court said he won, so we have agreed now. Now he should just govern, make life as livable as possible for Nigerians, deal with security everywhere, improve the economic level of our people, and fight corruption.”
Beyond his critique of the federal government, Onaiyekan also used the occasion to urge media professionals to rise above divisive reporting and embrace responsible communication that promotes peace and truth. He warned against using media platforms to inflame tensions.
In his welcome remarks, Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo, Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, said the week-long event was aimed at fostering thoughtful conversations on the role of communications in peacebuilding and good governance.
Highlighting this, Shuaib Husseni, Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board, noted that Nigeria faces serious internal crises fueled by sensational and conflict-triggering media coverage. He stressed the need for sensitive, ethical reporting to calm tensions across the country.
The forum closed with calls for unity, equity, and responsive leadership, principles many say are currently lacking at the highest levels of government.
Leave a Reply