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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Conflict & Security

Atiku: Attacks on Onaiyekan Validate Tinubu’s Intolerance for Dissent and Truths

From ThisDay · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar criticizes President Tinubu's intolerance, citing attacks on Catholic Cardinal Onaiyekan.
  • Abubakar asserts that Catholic bishops are not mere political tools and questions the validity of statistics used by the president.
  • The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) defends the cardinal against criticisms, while another figure, Reno Omokri, supports Tinubu's relationship with the Catholic church.

Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of intolerance, stating that recent attacks on Catholic Cardinal John Onaiyekan validate this claim. Abubakar asserted that Catholic bishops are not political props or easily swayed cheerleaders, and questioned the credibility of any dubious statistics the president might use.

His remarks come amid ongoing discussions about the relationship between the presidency and religious leaders. The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has also stepped in to defend Cardinal Onaiyekan against criticisms, emphasizing the cardinal's integrity.

Catholic bishops are not props or rented cheerleaders, no dubious statistics can save president

— Atiku AbubakarPresidential candidate Atiku Abubakar's statement criticizing President Tinubu's alleged intolerance.

However, the discourse also includes differing viewpoints, such as those expressed by Reno Omokri, who has stated that President Tinubu is the Catholic church's "best friend." This highlights a complex dynamic of political engagement with religious institutions in Nigeria.

Tinubu is Catholic’s best friend

— Reno OmokriReno Omokri's comment on President Tinubu's relationship with the Catholic church.
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Originally published by ThisDay. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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