Cardinal says Nigeria’s president has rejected bishops’ concerns about state of country

ABUJA, Nigeria — Members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) delivered a candid assessment of the country’s economic, security, and political challenges to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu , but the head of state made it clear that he disagreed with the bishops’ diagnosis, according to Cardinal John Onaiyekan .

Speaking to ARISE NEWS on July 31, Onaiyekan said the president responded directly to the concerns raised by the Catholic bishops during a July 28 meeting at the State House in Abuja and made it clear that he did not share their assessment of the situation in the country.

The cardinal said the CBCN members nevertheless considered it their responsibility to speak honestly about the realities facing Nigerians.

“When the nation is bleeding, you cannot expect a polite meeting with the head of state,” Onaiyekan said.

He explained that while the bishops told Tinubu that the economy was failing to adequately support poor Nigerians, the president maintained that the economy was doing well.

“Frankly speaking, he told us quite clearly that he did not agree with us,” the cardinal said.

Bishops’ message was widely consulted Onaiyekan emphasized that the…