By Dangwam Jude Dabee
The Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria (CLCN), representing over 38 million Catholic laity in Nigeria, has defended His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, over his recent public comments following the meeting between His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
In a press statement dated 2nd August, 2026 and signed by Sir Ambrose Obioha, KSM, JP, National President and Mr. Francis Olayinka Ojo, Secretary General, the National Executive Council of CLCN said the Cardinal’s intervention was not a “breach of trust” but the exercise of the Church’s prophetic role.
They pointed out that “The Catholic Church in Nigeria, by virtue of the Gospel and Catholic Social Teaching, has a God-given duty to speak truth to power, to defend the vulnerable and to hold leadership accountable with truth and charity. This is not ‘abuse of privilege’ but the fulfillment of pastoral responsibility.
“The Bishops, Priests, and Laity are called to be ‘Salt of the Earth and Light of the World’ Matthew 5:13-14- even in the corridors of power.”
CLCN acknowledged the sanctity of private meetings but stressed public accountability on national issues, stressing, “While we respect the sanctity of private engagements, matters that touch on the life, welfare, and future of over 200 million Nigerians cannot remain forever in closed rooms.
“When national issues of economy, security, and justice are discussed, the people have a right to know the direction of leadership. Cardinal Onaiyekan did not reveal secrets. He shared the moral concerns of the Church and the response of government, which is in the public interest.”
The Council described the Cardinal as a man of dialogue: “We know Cardinal Onaiyekan to be a man of peace, dialogue, and integrity. His intervention was not to embarrass government, but to call the nation to conscience. A disagreement over facts, as the Presidency rightly noted, should not be read as arrogance. Neither should a pastoral reflection be read as a breach of trust.”
CLCN called for sustained dialogue between government and the Church, underlining that the body believes: “that Government and Church must continue to work together for the common good. We urge both the Presidency and the Church to sustain the channels of dialogue. Nigeria needs moral voices now more than ever.
“We stand in solidarity with His Eminence Cardinal John Onaiyekan and the CBCN. We call on all Nigerians to pray for our leaders and to support policies that bring relief to the poor, security to our communities, and justice to all. May God bless Nigeria. May God bless the Catholic Church in Nigeria.”
