Those around Tinubu are hiding Nigerians' hardship from him, Onaiyekan says after meeting with president
Archbishop John Onaiyekan reported that President Bola Tinubu dismissed concerns about economic hardship during a meeting with Catholic bishops. The cleric suggested that the president is being shielded from the reality of the situation by his inner circle.
Why it matters
The disconnect between the government's perception and the public's economic reality highlights growing tensions between the Nigerian administration and religious leadership.
Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, John Onaiyekan, has recounted how President Bola Tinubu argued with a delegation of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) during a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa on Thursday, insisting that everything in the country was working well despite the bishops’ concerns about the nation’s worsening economic situation.
Mr Onaiyekan, who was part of the delegation from the catholic bishops, said the president’s reaction suggested that those around him were not giving him an accurate picture of the hardship Nigerians are experiencing.
The cleric disclosed this during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Friday, where he reflected on the meeting and the state of the nation.
He said President Tinubu’s facial expression showed dissatisfaction with the bishops’ assessment of the economy and that, instead of accepting their concerns, he argued that the country’s economy was improving.
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