Wike insists Onaiyekan was partisan in 2023 election

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has asserted that Archbishop Emeritus John Cardinal Onaiyekan was not neutral during Nigeria's 2023 general election. Wike dismissed suggestions that the cleric's recent criticisms of the presidency were impartial, stating that Onaiyekan's support was well-known. The minister's remarks came during a monthly media parley in Abuja, addressing the controversy following Onaiyekan's comments after a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria. Cardinal Onaiyekan had reportedly stated that those advising President Tinubu were presenting an overly optimistic view of the country and that the president seemed focused on a second term in 2027. The presidency had previously criticized the cardinal for disclosing details of the private meeting. Wike contended that religious leaders should exhibit greater balance in their public statements. He argued that consistently one-sided criticism of the government, without acknowledging its successes, would be perceived as political. "It is not every time you say things are bad; nobody has heard you say government has done this well," Wike stated. He urged for commendation when the government performs well, alongside constructive criticism for areas needing improvement. Wike suggested that persistent negative interventions from a public figure would lead the government to conclude that the criticism stems from opposition rather than objectivity. When pressed on the bishops' alleged non-partisanship, Wike rejected the notion, citing what he described as overt political alignment by religious leaders during the last presidential election. "People took sides, religious leaders took sides; it was very open," he said, adding, "We know ourselves in this country; we know who belongs to where. Who did they support in 2023? It was very obvious."

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I am aware of the position of Cardinal Onaiyekan; all of us know, it’s not hidden, whom he supports; everybody knows that.