Wike criticizes Onaiyekan, says religious leaders should stay neutral

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has taken a shot at Cardinal John Onaiyekan for his comments about President Bola Tinubu’s government. Wike said religious leaders might lose credibility if they seem to be taking sides.

Wike made this statement during his monthly media chat in August, which aired live on TVC on Tuesday.

He was responding to the uproar over the recent meeting between Tinubu and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria.

Wike said he does not mind religious leaders criticizing the government, but they should also highlight where the government has done well.

“I have always said this, particularly to religious leaders. And I’m honest in this matter. I am not against comments about government, because if comments are not made about government, government may not be able to know areas where they should concentrate or focus.

“Therefore, government is available to receive comments. But when comments are made by a particular section consistently, government becomes… not even government, even individuals, because they are careful,” Wike explained.

He urged religious leaders not to give the impression that they are always against a specific government.

“If you are a religious leader, and it is perceived or seen you are taking a side, which is very clear, it becomes difficult for people to begin to see those comments as being helpful or real.

“I am aware of the position of Cardinal Onaiyekan. All of us know; it’s not hidden. His position… who he supported. Everybody knows that,” he said.

When the interviewer said she was unaware of whom the cardinal supported, Wike insisted that the cleric’s attitude towards the government has been mostly negative.

“You don’t every time say things are bad, things are bad. Nobody has heard him say one day that government has done this well.

“The point I’m trying to make is that, as a leader, commend government when government has done well on some areas. Criticise government that, 'Look, yes, you have done this well, this well, this well. But we think that you should look into these other areas.'

“But if your comments are every time nothing positive, then government must worry about you. Government will begin to think that you are merely criticising because you’re opposed to the government,” he added.

Wike also disagreed with those who said religious leaders should stay politically neutral during the 2023 general election.

“Don’t tell me non-partisans, no. Don’t tell me that. You know what happened in the 2023 election. People took sides, religious leaders took sides. It was very open.

“It would look… it would be stupid to sit here for anybody to tell me this person is impartial. No. We know ourselves in this country. We know who belongs to where,” he said.

When asked what religious leaders gain by taking political sides, Wike responded, “Who did they support in 2023? It was very obvious. They made it clear.

“What I’m saying, there’s nothing wrong in that. But the point I’m saying is that you cannot be seen consistently holding just one view about the government.”

Wike’s comments come after a public disagreement between the Presidency and Cardinal John Onaiyekan over the country’s issues.

This issue arose after Onaiyekan’s interview on Arise Television following a meeting on July 28 with President Tinubu and a group from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria.

The cardinal mentioned that the bishops expressed worries about worsening economic hardship, insecurity, and governance. He added that the President disagreed with their views and claimed the country was making progress.

The Presidency later defended Tinubu’s stance. Aides Temitope Ajayi and Daniel Bwala accused the bishops of presenting only one side and suggested some church leaders were partisan during the 2023 elections.

Meanwhile, African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, criticized the Presidency for attacking Onaiyekan and called for an apology to the cardinal and the Catholic Church.

Atiku said the government should focus on the issues raised about the economy, security, and governance instead of discrediting respected religious leaders.