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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Christian group backs Catholic bishops, rebukes presidential aide

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Northern Christian Association (NCA) supports Nigerian Catholic bishops' concerns raised with President Bola Tinubu.
  • NCA Chairman Rev. Joseph Hayab accused presidential media aide Daniel Bwala of trying to divide Christians.
  • Hayab stressed that the Catholic bishops addressed national issues affecting all Nigerians, not just Catholics.

The Northern Christian Association (NCA) has publicly backed Nigeria's Catholic bishops, defending their recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu and criticizing presidential media adviser Daniel Bwala for allegedly attempting to sow discord within the Christian community.

We should tell Bwala to know that Catholics are Christians and Nigerians.

— Rev. Joseph HayabChairman of the Northern Christian Association, explaining the inclusivity of the association and defending the Catholic bishops.

NCA Chairman Rev. Joseph Hayab stated that the Catholic bishops addressed matters concerning all Christians and Nigerians, not solely issues within the Catholic Church. He insisted their intervention was in the national interest, countering Bwala's remarks that followed the bishops' meeting with Tinubu to discuss the country's socio-economic and security challenges.

Our members are Catholics, Baptists, ECWA, Methodists, Anglicans, Pentecostals and people of all denominations. We refuse to be divided by Bwala’s politics of division.

— Rev. Joseph HayabChairman of the Northern Christian Association, highlighting the diversity within the group and rejecting divisive tactics.

"We should tell Bwala to know that Catholics are Christians and Nigerians," Hayab declared in a statement on Sunday. He emphasized that the NCA comprises members from virtually all Christian denominations in Northern Nigeria, including Catholic, Baptist, ECWA, Methodist, Anglican, and Pentecostal churches. "We refuse to be divided by Bwala’s politics of division," he added.

It is therefore shameful and a disservice to Tinubu for his spokesperson to disrespect our Cardinal.

— Rev. Joseph HayabChairman of the Northern Christian Association, criticizing the presidential aide's remarks about a respected Cardinal.

Hayab also called for respect for Cardinal John Onaiyekan and the bishops who met with the President. He described Bwala's comments as "shameful and a disservice" to Tinubu, asserting that the bishops offered sincere counsel to help the administration tackle the nation's problems. The NCA chairman further criticized the tendency of some government officials to dismiss legitimate concerns raised by religious leaders, arguing that resorting to propaganda instead of addressing realities harms the country.

An honest counsel has been given to Mr President for his own good and for a better Nigeria.

— Rev. Joseph HayabChairman of the Northern Christian Association, defending the Catholic bishops' advice to the President.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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