NIGERIA — The Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria (CLCN) has thrown its weight behind Cardinal John Onaiyekan, dismissing allegations by the Presidency that the senior Catholic cleric breached trust by publicly commenting on the Catholic Bishops’ recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
In a press statement dated August 2, 2026, and signed by the National President, Sir Ambrose Obioma, and the Secretary General, Mr Francis Olayinka Ojo, the Council said it was responding to the Presidency’s criticism of Cardinal Onaiyekan following his interview on the closed-door meeting between President Tinubu and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
Representing what it described as over 38 million Catholic laity in Nigeria, the CLCN insisted that the Church has a divine responsibility to “speak truth to power” in accordance with the Gospel and Catholic Social Teaching.
The Council argued that the bishops’ intervention was not an “abuse of privilege” but a fulfilment of their pastoral mission to defend the vulnerable and hold leaders accountable.
Addressing concerns over the confidentiality of the meeting, the CLCN said while private engagements should be respected, discussions affecting the lives, security, economy, and future of Nigerians cannot remain permanently behind closed doors.
It maintained that Cardinal Onaiyekan did not disclose confidential information but merely shared the Church’s moral concerns and the government’s response, which it described as being in the public interest.
The Council further described Cardinal Onaiyekan as a man of peace, dialogue, and integrity, stressing that his comments were intended to awaken the nation’s conscience rather than embarrass the government.
It also called for continued cooperation between the Church and government, urging both sides to sustain dialogue in pursuit of the common good.
In its conclusion, the Catholic Laity Council reaffirmed its solidarity with Cardinal Onaiyekan and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, while calling on Nigerians to pray for their leaders and support policies that promote justice, security, and relief for the poor.
