Nigerian Cardinal Says Tinubu Detached From Reality Of National Hardship
Cardinal John Onaiyekan, one of Nigeria’s most senior Catholic clergy, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of being detached from the economic hardships facing ordinary Nigerians, alleging that presidential aides shield the leader from the true state of the country.
According to Sahara Reporters, the retired Archbishop of Abuja made the remarks during a public engagement, where he suggested that advisers surrounding the president present an overly optimistic account of conditions on the ground. The Cardinal’s comments add to a chorus of criticism directed at the Tinubu administration, which took office in May 2023 amid high public expectations.
Onaiyekan is a veteran of Nigerian public life, having led the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja for many years before his retirement. He was elevated to Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012 and has long been involved in interfaith dialogue and peacebuilding efforts across West Africa, lending his remarks considerable moral weight in national debates.
Since assuming office, the Tinubu government has pursued sweeping economic reforms, including the removal of a long-standing fuel subsidy and a liberalisation of the foreign exchange market. While economists have largely described such measures as long-overdue corrections, they have coincided with sharp increases in the cost of food, fuel, and transportation for ordinary households across Africa’s most populous nation.
The Cardinal’s intervention reflects a growing frustration among religious and civil society leaders who have called on the government to cushion the impact of its policies on vulnerable citizens. His remarks are likely to renew scrutiny of the communication between Aso Rock and the wider Nigerian public at a time of widespread economic strain.
Sources
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