Tinubu Disagreed with Bishops on Economy, Insecurity
Archbishop Emeritus John Onaiyekan stated that President Bola Tinubu rejected the Catholic Bishops' concerns regarding Nigeria's economy and security during a recent meeting. The President insisted his administration is on the right track, despite the bishops' claims that the nation is struggling.
Why it matters
The public disagreement highlights growing tension between religious leadership and the Nigerian government over the country's current socio-economic trajectory.
The Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, John Onaiyekan, has said that President Bola Tinubu disagreed with the assessment of the economy and security concerns raised by members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria during their meeting at the State House, Abuja. PUNCH Online had reported that Tinubu met with the bishops on July 28, 2026, where they expressed concerns over the country’s economy, insecurity and political climate. Speaking during an interview on Prime Time, a programme on Arise News, on Friday, Onaiyekan said Tinubu rejected the bishops’ assessment, insisting that his administration was on the right track. “When the nation is bleeding, you cannot expect a polite meeting with the Head of State. We told him the economy is not helping our poor people; he told us the economy is doing fine.
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