‘I’m 82, not afraid of anybody’ – Onaiyekan responds to Presidency

Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has firmly defended his decision to speak publicly about a meeting between Catholic bishops and President Bola Tinubu. Onaiyekan stated that his appearance on television was to convey the truth, not to appease the government or any individuals.

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I didn’t go to Arise (Television) to please government, or to just please people, but to tell the truth. That’s all I stand for.

The 82-year-old cleric addressed criticism from the Presidency regarding his account of the bishops' meeting with Tinubu. He dismissed any suggestions of embarrassment or intimidation, emphasizing his lack of fear towards anyone. "I cannot be embarrassed. I'm 82 years old; nobody can embarrass me. And I'm not afraid of anybody," Onaiyekan declared, questioning who at his age could possibly arrest him.

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I cannot be embarrassed. I’m 82 years old; nobody can embarrass me. And I’m not afraid of anybody. Nobody, at this stage now, are they going to arrest me, carry me to where?

Onaiyekan also urged Nigerians not to take their freedom to criticize the government for granted, noting that religious leaders in some other African nations do not possess the same liberty. "And we are still lucky in this Nigeria that we can still talk. We shouldn't take that for granted. There are many countries in Africa where no bishop dares to talk like we do here," he said.

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And we are still lucky in this Nigeria that we can still talk. We shouldn't take that for granted. There are many countries in Africa where no bishop dares to talk like we do here.

He further clarified that his comments about the meeting were not solely his personal stance but reflected the unified views of the Catholic bishops present. "I spoke on behalf of my fellow bishops. We drafted a statement which contained all that I said in the interview. So, all the bishops of Nigeria spoke that way. It was their voice I was echoing," he explained. The bishops, he added, remain free to express similar concerns within their dioceses, and other religious leaders have also voiced their worries about the nation's condition, including poverty and insecurity.

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I spoke on behalf of my fellow bishops. We drafted a statement which contained all that I said in the interview. So, all the bishops of Nigeria spoke that way. It was their voice I was echoing.