When a Government Declares War on the Truth
President Donald Trump of America recently described Nigeria as “a now disgraced country.” The painful reality is that Nigeria’s challenges continue to deepen. Each passing day reveals deeper signs of decline, especially when a government becomes increasingly intolerant of truth and hostile to those who speak about the suffering of the people.
The Catholic Church has never functioned as an opposition party in Nigeria. Across military regimes and successive democratic administrations, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has maintained a principled voice on national issues and the nation’s conscience, commending governments when they deserved commendation and speaking the truth whenever national conscience demanded it. Its interventions are driven by a moral obligation, rooted in Christian social teaching, to defend truth, justice, and the common good.
The same applies to Nigeria’s major religious organisations. Bodies such as Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) have repeatedly raised concerns over economic hardship, inflation, and insecurity. Living among the people, religious leaders often encounter the suffering of citizens firsthand. They speak because they witness families struggling with rising food prices, unemployment, and the fear created by kidnappings and insecurity.
As leaders, we should be gracious enough to listen to people and organisations that speak the truth to us and genuinely criticise us when things are not going in the right direction. As Governor, I had the opportunity of working with a very strong Council of Traditional Rulers, led by the Obi of Onitsha, and religious bodies that consistently criticised me and offered suggestions. This contributed greatly to our success in Anambra State, especially in critical areas like education and health.
Against this background, the attacks on the CBCN, and especially on His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, are deeply troubling. Even in 1998, when Pope John Paul II visited Nigeria and told General Abacha some hard truths, including about the incarceration of Chief Moshood Abiola, nobody vilified him.
During the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV in Rome, to demonstrate his purported commitment to and respect for the Catholic Church, President Bola Tinubu arrived in Rome days before the event, ahead of most other visiting dignitaries, including Catholics such as the U.S. Vice President, JD Vance. He participated in the liturgy, queued with other world leaders to greet the Holy Father, and displayed deep respect for the moral authority of the Church. Back in Nigeria, however, that posture has now changed completely.
What is playing out today also reveals how political leaders sometimes exploit religion and ethnicity to divide the people. Even when it was obvious that the CBCN was speaking on issues affecting Nigerians across religious and ethnic boundaries, aides to the President immediately reduced it to a “religious affair.” The question is: are insecurity, poverty, inflation, unemployment, and hardship problems exclusive to a particular faith? Do these challenges recognise religious or tribal boundaries?
The bishops merely expressed what millions of Nigerians experience daily: insecurity has worsened, poverty is deepening, inflation is crippling families, businesses are struggling, and hope is fading. These are realities echoed by religious leaders across the country, to whom successive governments gave thanks and promised to look into their observations.
Rather than address these concerns or explain the measures in place to ameliorate them, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s aides and supporters responded with vicious attacks, particularly against Cardinal John Onaiyekan, with little regard for his age, stature, and accomplishments.
It’s 46days since Oyo children were taken.
It’s 46days since Oyo children were taken.
It’s 46days since Oyo children were taken.
It’s 46days since Oyo children were taken.
It’s 46days since Oyo children were taken.
Pls keep speaking up.
Pls share for the world to see this.
💔
Man is too flawed to govern himself, yet too arrogant to accept a ruler he didn't invent. Every god in history possesses the exact same traits as its creators-jealousy, a need for validation, and a thirst for vengeance.
@DrHediGO@Akoladeeee@Emarged Okay, let me explain it to you.
When it gets to a certain amount of money
There's nothing you can buy for your "lifestyle". That I cant buy as well
I have 10billion
U have 500 billion
Remember that's net worth not cash.
With that net worth there's nothing u can buy that I can't
@DrHediGO@Akoladeeee@Emarged Dis is harder dan I tot.
Think of it this way; He made a statement, u said he is wrong, he says you cant give an example, u insist that u cant give an example bcos u are poor, but he is still wrong even tho u cant give an example.
Just imagine an example and give na or shut up
@UpcomingElon@Phocuz_@Emarged Read the tweet again an again... Not so you can respond, but to understand what he's actually saying.
It might affect your perception of money and wealth, but you will get it... Don't fight it
@ansem_edet@olg_caleb Why are you pretending that your reason for disparaging him is intellectual?
It doesn't fool anyone. Say your piece, take your pay and move along
@_Octopus0@biggy_vicki@MibshaD That's true... Sanitary pads didn't work because of the type of blood used for testing...
Wait... I'm hearing that it's been working just the same. This is disturbing...