ABUJA, Nigeria — Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Ehioma, popularly known as Fada Mentor Ehioma, has criticised reactions to the recent meeting between President Bola Tinubu and members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), accusing some supporters of the administration of politicising the engagement.
In a statement shared on Sunday, Ehioma expressed support for John Cardinal Onaiyekan following criticism over the cleric’s public comments about the issues discussed during the meeting with the President.
The priest alleged that critics initially sought to portray the bishops’ intervention through ethnic or religious narratives, arguing that attention had shifted away from the substance of the bishops’ concerns.
According to him, the Presidency publicised President Tinubu’s remarks after the meeting without fully disclosing the issues presented by the bishops. He questioned criticisms directed at Cardinal Onaiyekan for later discussing the concerns raised during a television interview.
Ehioma also rejected claims circulating in some quarters that the Catholic Bishops’ engagement with the President was politically motivated or intended to advance the interests of Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi.
Describing such allegations as unfounded, he insisted that the bishops’ intervention focused on national issues rather than partisan politics.
The priest further alleged that the administration could seek meetings with other religious leaders to counter the public attention generated by the Catholic bishops’ visit, although he provided no evidence to support the claim.
The comments add to the growing public debate surrounding the Catholic Bishops’ recent meeting with President Tinubu and subsequent remarks by Cardinal Onaiyekan on Nigeria’s economic conditions, insecurity, and governance.
During a television interview following the meeting, Cardinal Onaiyekan stated that the bishops had told President Tinubu that the country was “bleeding” and that prevailing economic conditions were worsening the plight of poor Nigerians. He also indicated that the President and some officials present appeared unhappy with the bishops’ presentation because it differed from the favourable assessments the President regularly received.
The Presidency has since criticised Cardinal Onaiyekan, with Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, accusing the cleric of acting “as a proxy for opposition political elements.” The Presidency also alleged that the Catholic Church was politically biased and supported Peter Obi.
Former Vice President and ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has also weighed in on the controversy, condemning the Presidency’s response and defending Cardinal Onaiyekan.
In a statement, Atiku argued that the Catholic bishops were “not political props, rented cheerleaders or praise singers” but “shepherds with a moral obligation to speak truth to power.” He suggested that the Presidency had grown accustomed to inviting compliant clerics and now expected all religious leaders to serve as government praise singers.
Atiku also accused the Presidency of attempting to shape public perception by selectively presenting the outcome of the meeting, and called for an apology to Cardinal Onaiyekan and the Catholic Church.
