A Response to Tope Ajayi’s Article "Cardinal Onaiyekan’s Abuse of Clerical Privilege"
I read the article titled “Cardinal Onaiyekan's Abuse of Clerical Privilege” by Temitope Ajayi with great interest. Surely, the article raises important questions about the relationship between the Church and the State. However, I believe some of its conclusions, particularly from the perspectives of constitutional democracy and the Church’s public mission, deserve a respectful and balanced response and clarifications.
Here is my point to point response to each of the concerns raised.
1. Was it improper for Cardinal Onaiyekan to speak publicly on Arise News?
Not necessarily. The meeting between President Tinubu and the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria was not a sacramental confession that requires utmost secrecy, a diplomatic negotiation under secrecy, or a legally confidential proceeding. Unless the participants expressly agreed to confidentiality, there is no legal or moral principle that absolutely prevents either party from commenting on the discussion afterward.
2. The Church has both the right and the duty to speak.
Catholic bishops are not merely private citizens expressing personal opinions. By virtue of their pastoral office, they have a responsibility to teach on moral and social issues. Catholic social teaching consistently affirms that the Church must speak whenever human dignity, justice, security, and the common good are at stake. That is exactly what the bishops did.
3. Speaking after a meeting is not necessarily a breach of trust.
Providing one’s understanding of a discussion is different from revealing confidential state secrets. Democratic engagement often includes explaining to the faithful what was discussed, particularly when the meeting like theirs concerns issues affecting millions of citizens.
4. Criticism of government is not a denial of progress.
One may acknowledge improvements while still concluding that much more remains to be done. Recognizing government achievements and identifying persistent failures are not mutually exclusive positions.
5. “Truth to power” remains relevant.
The fact that a president receives intelligence briefings does not eliminate the value of independent voices. Security reports, economic data, religious leaders, civil society, academics, journalists, and ordinary citizens each offer different perspectives. No single source possesses the whole truth.
6. Access to privileged information does not settle public debate.
The President undoubtedly possesses information unavailable to the public. However, democratic accountability also requires that government decisions remain open to public scrutiny and legitimate criticism.
7. Confidentiality should not become silence.
If public officials may explain their side of a meeting, religious leaders should not automatically be denied the same opportunity, provided they do so truthfully, respectfully, and without disclosing genuinely confidential matters.
8. Clerical office does not diminish civic responsibility.
The virtues expected of bishops such as prudence, temperance, and wisdom, do not require silence in the face of national concerns. History remembers many bishops who respectfully challenged civil authorities while remaining faithful to both the Gospel and legitimate constitutional order.
In all, the real issue is not whether Cardinal Onaiyekan spoke, but whether what he said was truthful, fair, and served the common good. I believe that in a constitutional democracy, respectful dialogue between religious leaders and civil authorities should continue not only behind closed doors but, when appropriate, also in the public square, just as Cardinal Onaiyekan did.
Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch
“Please, any keke rider in Bayelsa state who finds N300,000 in their tricycle should please return it to me. I'm the owner.” — Elderly woman breaks down in tears
You added $42 billion to our national debt and added only $5 billion to our foreign reserve; and you want us to clap for you. 😂😂
Let's put this into context,
Zubairu has N1,000 in his Zenith bank account and he went to Okechukwu and borrowed N5,000.
He took N3,000 from this N5,000 loan and deposited into his Zenith bank account and the account balance increased to N4,000. And he used the remaining N2,000 to flex suya and kunu.
He now called his girlfriend Yetunde and showed her his balance of N4,000; telling her he's account balance is increasing.
Meanwhile, he is owing Okechukwu N5,000.
Is this a progress for Zubairu or backwardness?
Zubairu is Nigeria (Tinubu).
Okechukwu is World Bank.
Yetunde is the citizenry.
Dear Nigerians, PAY ATTENTION!
Lere Olayinka has deleted the tweet that exposed his crime. He deleted it without accountability. The DSS are yet to pick him up.
@OlayinkaLere is yet to explain to all Nigerians how he was able to gain unfettered access to INEC’s restricted area of the backend.
Wike’s aide is yet to tell us how he managed to publish Emeka Ike’s sensitive data. Professor Joash Amupitan has explanations to make as well. It will cost you nothing to retweet this, until INEC gives a satisfactory explanation.
Lere must tell us what happened to the IREV.
INEC wrote a whole load of rubbish, but failed to mention @OlayinkaLere name; not once!
WHAT DOES THIS TELL YOU?
INEC & whoever wrote the rubbish on their behalf, including Lere Olayinka, are laughing at Nigerians behind the scene. Any result/results declared by Joash Amupitan will be REJECTED!
INEC WILL SET NIGERIA ON FIRE!
#ArrestLereOlayinkaNow !!!
This one shook me to my core 💔
Nigeria has many ways of failing its people… and this is one of the cruelest.
Meet Gospel Uabari Kinanee. In 2007, he was just 14 years old. He left home to play football with friends and never came back.
For months, his family turned Rivers State upside down. Hospitals, police stations, morgues — they checked everywhere. No Gospel.
The search broke them. His parents sold their land, their property, everything they had to find their son. The pain and stress was too much. Eventually, both of them died from heartbreak 💔
The world assumed Gospel was dead too. Years passed. 18 long years.
Then in 2025, out of nowhere, his older brother got a call: “We found your brother. He’s in a correctional facility in Rivers State.”
For 18 years, Gospel had been locked up. A 14-year-old boy who went out to play.
When they asked for his case file, there was nothing. No charges. No court record. No reason for his arrest. Just a child… forgotten behind bars.
The worst part? Gospel lost himself in there. His mind couldn’t carry the weight. He doesn’t recognize his brother. He can’t explain how he ended up in prison. The boy who left home to play ball is now a man who can’t remember his own story 😢
How does a child disappear into the system for 18 years without a case?
How many more “Gospels” are wasting away in prison right now for nothing?
This is not just his story. This is a wake-up call for all of us.
Nigeria, how do we fix this? How many innocent lives are we still losing to silence and broken systems? Talk to me
#JusticeForGospel
I just visited one of the parents in my school who has been seriously ill, and my heart is deeply troubled by his condition. He is currently in severe pain and urgently needs help.
According to him, he has been diagnosed with fatty liver disease. He has visited several hospitals, but due to financial challenges, he has not been able to access the proper medical care and treatment he needs.
I am humbly appealing to kind-hearted individuals to support him in any way possible. Every contribution, no matter how small, can make a difference in helping him receive the medical attention he urgently requires.
May God bless everyone who extends a helping hand. 🙏🏽❤️
I have his full video. 😭😭😭😭😭
@Yemo247@ChainFundIt@OmotayoSolomo10@Wizarab10
ADEWALE VICTIM OF 4TH DEGREE BURN.
GOOD MORNING SIR MR RUFAI OSENI. I AM GLAD YOU PUT OUT YOUR EMAIL SO NEEDY ONES LIKE US CAN SEEK HELP. I APPRECIATE IT.
DEAR NIGERIANS.
I AM BIMBO KADRI
ADEWALE KADRI ,MY BROTHER SUFFERED ACCIDENTAL 4TH DEGREE SERIOUS BURNS ON HANDS AND PART THIGHS,
AS SEEN IN HEREBY PICTURES.
TREATMENT NEEDS FOR DRESSING ETC NOT EASY NOT TO TALK IV AN OTHER ACCESSORIES.
WE ARE NOT FINANCIALLY OKAY TO HANDLE.
SEEKING HELP IN PLACES.
PLEASE WE HUMBLY PLEAD TO KIND HEARTED NIGERIANS TO SUPPORT US, NO AMOUNT TOO SMALL.
PALMPAY 8944146251
ACCOUNT NAME KADRI YUSUF.
PHONE.
GOD REWARD YOU ALL.
BIMBO
@OyoNews1 It is because of the raining season wait till dry season you will discover that nothing as change, the same story every year from one government to another.