Wike says Cardinal Onaiyekan not neutral in 2023 elections, northern youths back cleric
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, was not neutral during the 2023 general elections, dismissing suggestions that the cleric’s recent criticisms of the Presidency were impartial.
Speaking at his monthly media parley in Abuja, Wike argued that religious leaders needed to show more balance in public commentaries. One-sided criticism of government without acknowledging any achievements would inevitably be read as political, he said. “I am aware of the position of Cardinal Onaiyekan; all of us know, it’s not hidden, whom he supports; everybody knows that.”
Wike maintained that government should not be shielded from criticism but that credit should also be given where due. He rejected claims that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) position was non-partisan, pointing to what he described as open political alignment by religious leaders in the last presidential poll. He also faulted the bishops’ call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain neutrality in 2027, asking them to present facts rather than general accusations of bias.
The remarks drew strong reactions. The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) declared support for Cardinal Onaiyekan, saying his comments on hardship, inflation and insecurity reflected the daily realities facing millions of Nigerians. The group urged public officials to address the issues raised rather than question those who speak out.
Former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi accused the Presidency of insulting the Catholic Church and the Christian faith. He insisted the bishops were justified in raising concerns about hardship and electoral integrity, and that Cardinal Onaiyekan supported nobody but was motivated by concern over poverty and corruption.
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) also stood with the CBCN and Cardinal Onaiyekan, condemning attacks on the cleric for speaking about harsh living conditions. It cited the real-value decline of the minimum wage, the depreciation of the naira and the continuing impact of insecurity on communities in the Middle Belt.
The Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria (CLCN) said Onaiyekan’s intervention was intended to call the nation to conscience rather than embarrass government, stressing the Church’s moral obligation to speak on issues affecting citizens’ welfare.
The exchange highlights a recurring tension: when religious leaders publicly address economic hardship and institutional neutrality, government officials often interpret the intervention as political alignment. The clerics and their supporters frame it as moral duty. Both the content of the criticism and the manner of the official response will shape how the public reads the exchange in the months ahead.
