“We Told Him the Economy Is Not Helping the Poor, He Told Us It Is Doing Fine” — Cardinal Onaiyekan Reveals What Happened at Bishops’ Meeting with Tinubu
ABUJA, Nigeria — The Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, , has revealed that President openly disagreed with concerns raised by members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) during their recent meeting at the Presidential Villa.
Recall that President Tinubu hosted members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the State House in Abuja on July 28, 2026, where the bishops expressed deep concerns over the worsening economic hardship, insecurity and the country’s political climate.
Speaking during an interview with Arise News on Friday, July 31, Cardinal Onaiyekan disclosed that the meeting was frank and that the bishops did not hold back in presenting the realities confronting ordinary Nigerians.
“When the nation is bleeding, you cannot expect a polite meeting with the Head of State. We had to let him know. And his reply is that the nation is not bleeding. We told him the economy is not helping our poor people; he told us the economy is doing fine. Frankly speaking, he told us quite clearly that he did not agree with us,” Onaiyekan said.
The respected cleric noted that the bishops were not surprised by the President’s response, stressing that their responsibility was to convey the concerns of millions of Nigerians rather than seek political agreement.
“Again, we were not surprised. We didn’t expect him to agree with us. We have done our duty, we have delivered our message, and we have a feeling that somehow, along the line, somebody will show him a few of the things we said,” he added.
Cardinal Onaiyekan further clarified that the position presented to President Tinubu was not a personal opinion but the outcome of extensive consultations among members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
According to him, the statement reflected the collective voice of Catholic bishops across the country and was driven solely by their pastoral responsibility to speak the truth about the challenges facing Nigerians.
He emphasized that the bishops have no political ambitions, insisting that their duty is to continue speaking truthfully on issues affecting the lives and welfare of citizens.
The latest revelation has reignited conversations over the state of Nigeria’s economy, with many Nigerians continuing to express concerns over the rising cost of living, inflation and the hardship experienced across the country.
Source: Arise News.
