By Frontline Reporters

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, have thrown their weight behind the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and John Cardinal Onaiyekan, defending their right to speak on the state of the nation and urging President Bola Tinubu’s administration to embrace constructive criticism instead of attacking dissenting voices.

The duo condemned what they described as a growing intolerance of opposing views by the Federal Government, following the Presidency’s criticism of Cardinal Onaiyekan over comments made after the bishops’ meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

In a statement titled “When a Government Declares War on the Truth,” Obi warned that public attacks on respected religious leaders who raise concerns about national issues could weaken Nigeria’s democratic culture and divert attention from the country’s pressing challenges.

According to Obi, Nigeria’s deepening economic hardship, rising inflation, widespread insecurity, unemployment and declining living standards require honest engagement with constructive criticism rather than hostility towards individuals and institutions that speak out in the public interest.

He stressed that the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria has never functioned as a political opposition group but has consistently served as the nation’s moral conscience, speaking truth to power under both military and democratic governments. He noted that major Islamic and Christian organisations, including Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), have equally expressed concern over the nation’s worsening security and economic conditions.

Obi observed that religious leaders are often among the first to witness the suffering of ordinary Nigerians because they live and work within communities where families grapple daily with soaring food prices, unemployment, kidnappings and other social hardships.

Drawing from his experience as Governor of Anambra State, Obi said constructive criticism from religious leaders and traditional rulers significantly contributed to the successes recorded by his administration, particularly in education and healthcare.

“As leaders, we should be gracious enough to listen to people and organisations that sincerely criticise us when things are not going in the right direction,” he said.

Obi expressed concern over what he described as the unwarranted attacks on the CBCN and Cardinal Onaiyekan following the bishops’ assessment of the nation’s condition. He recalled that when Pope John Paul II visited Nigeria in 1998 and openly challenged the military government of the late General Sani Abacha on issues such as the detention of Chief Moshood Abiola, the pontiff was not subjected to public vilification.

He also pointed to what he described as a contradiction in the Federal Government’s relationship with the Catholic Church, noting that President Tinubu showed great respect for the Church during the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV in Rome by arriving ahead of several world leaders and participating fully in the ceremonies.

Obi questioned why that posture appeared to have changed after the Nigerian bishops criticised the country’s deteriorating socio-economic conditions.

He further accused political actors of attempting to exploit religious and ethnic divisions by portraying the bishops’ intervention as a purely Catholic issue, insisting that insecurity, poverty, inflation, unemployment and economic hardship affect every Nigerian, irrespective of religion or ethnicity.

“The bishops merely expressed what millions of Nigerians experience every day,” Obi said, urging government officials to focus on addressing the issues raised instead of attacking respected religious leaders.

“A democratic government should welcome honest feedback from credible institutions. National progress depends on leaders’ willingness to confront difficult truths rather than silence those who voice them,” he added.

Kwankwaso: Bishops Reflected Nigerians’ Reality

Echoing Obi’s position, NDC vice-presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso commended the Catholic Bishops for what he described as their courage, patriotism and commitment to national development.

In a post on his verified X account, the former Kano State governor dismissed suggestions that the bishops’ comments on rising hardship, insecurity, declining public confidence and the cost of living were politically motivated.

According to him, the clerics simply articulated the painful realities confronting millions of Nigerians across the country.

Kwankwaso lamented that despite Nigeria’s enormous human and natural resources, millions of citizens continue to struggle with poverty, unemployment, insecurity, poor access to quality healthcare and education, and shrinking economic opportunities.

He said the country’s challenges demand urgent, sincere and people-centred solutions from those entrusted with leadership.

The former governor also urged Nigerians to continue engaging governments at all levels constructively while calling on leaders to embrace accountability and pursue policies that prioritise the welfare, security and prosperity of the people.

“I commend the Catholic Bishops for their courage and patriotism. It is through such collective commitment and responsible leadership that we can build a more peaceful, united and prosperous Nigeria,” Kwankwaso stated.

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