NIGERIA — Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has questioned the independence of Bishop Stephen Tunde Victor Adegbite’s recent criticism of Catholic bishops over their interventions on the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Dalung, in a strongly worded commentary, said Nigerians should scrutinise the circumstances surrounding Adegbite’s public defence of the Tinubu administration before accepting claims that Catholic bishops are motivated by political hostility towards the government.
According to Dalung, Adegbite is entitled to support Tinubu and defend the administration if he genuinely believes it is performing well, but Nigerians are equally entitled to examine the bishop’s own relationship with the government.
“Who exactly is Bishop Adegbite, and how independent are the claims he is making about his fellow Christian leaders?” Dalung asked.
Adegbite’s Government Roles
He noted that Adegbite serves as Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), a position to which he was appointed by President Tinubu in January 2024 for an initial five-year term.
Dalung also pointed to Adegbite’s role as Chaplain of the Aso Rock Villa Chapel and his position as Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
He argued that Adegbite has publicly expressed support for the Tinubu administration on several occasions, including defending the government’s efforts over insecurity, praising the President’s leadership and economic policies, and encouraging Nigerians to support the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Dalung further referenced reports in which Adegbite was described as a family friend of the Tinubu family, arguing that such proximity does not make the bishop wrong but, in his view, makes his public interventions deserving of scrutiny.
The Right to Support, the Duty to Scrutinise
“Let me be very clear about that. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a bishop supporting a President,” Dalung said.
“There is nothing wrong with him believing that Tinubu is doing a good job. There is nothing wrong with him defending the government when he believes the government is being unfairly attacked.”
However, Dalung said the same standard should apply when Adegbite questions the motives of Catholic bishops who have criticised the Tinubu administration.
He distinguished between expressing disagreement with the Catholic bishops and accusing them of being politically motivated. According to him, saying “I disagree with the Catholic Bishops” is an opinion, while claiming that “the Catholic Bishops are politically motivated and are against the government” amounts to an allegation requiring evidence.
“If the Catholic Bishops have lied about insecurity, let Bishop Adegbite tell us precisely what they lied about,” Dalung said.
“If they exaggerated the suffering of Nigerians, show us where. If their intervention was politically motivated, establish it. If they have misrepresented the position of the Federal Government, correct them with facts.”
Criticism Is Not Political Opposition
Dalung maintained that criticism of government should not automatically be interpreted as political opposition, particularly in a democracy facing significant security, economic, and social challenges.
He said Catholic bishops have the right to question the government, just as Adegbite has the right to defend it.
“But Nigerians have the right to examine both sides,” he said.
Dalung also questioned what he described as the apparent contradiction of a government-appointed Christian leader who serves as Chaplain of the Aso Rock Villa publicly defending the administration while portraying other Christian leaders who criticise the government as politically motivated.
“That doesn’t make him wrong. But surely, it makes his position deserving of scrutiny,” he said.
Democratic Accountability and Moral Authority
The former minister argued that democratic accountability requires government officials and leaders to tolerate criticism rather than treating dissenting voices as enemies.
He said religious leaders should be able to speak truth to power regardless of which political party or individual occupies the presidency.
“A government should be able to survive criticism. A President should be able to hear uncomfortable truths,” Dalung said.
He added that he would be more impressed if political and religious figures supporting the administration were equally willing to criticise it when they believed it had taken the wrong position.
“That is where moral authority is tested. Not when you praise the powerful. When you have the courage to correct them,” he said.
Challenge Facts, Not the Messenger
Dalung said his argument was not about denominational, ethnic, or regional differences, but about independence, credibility, and accountability.
He urged those defending the government to challenge the facts presented by the Catholic bishops rather than attempting to discredit them because of their criticism.
“If the Catholic Bishops are wrong, challenge their facts. If they are right, fix the problem,” he said.
“But please, don’t attempt to discredit the messenger simply because you disagree with the message.”
Dalung acknowledged that, as someone in the opposition, he has a political interest in seeing the Tinubu administration scrutinised, but said the issue goes beyond partisan politics.
“I want this government questioned. I want it scrutinised. I want its claims tested,” he said.
He argued that religious leaders should retain the independence to speak truth to power, regardless of whether the government in office is led by Tinubu, former President Muhammadu Buhari, former President Goodluck Jonathan, or any other leader.
“The Church should not be a government department. It should not be an opposition party either. It should be the conscience of society,” Dalung said.
He concluded by questioning whether Catholic bishops are genuinely the problem because they have criticised the government, or whether Nigerians have simply become uncomfortable with people who refuse to tell those in power what they want to hear.
“That, for me, is the real issue,” Dalung said.
