Cardinal Onaiyekan Draws the Line: “I Went on TV to Tell the Truth, Not to Please Government”

Cardinal John Onaiyekan has pushed back forcefully against criticism from the Presidency following his recent television comments about the meeting between President Bola Tinubu and Catholic bishops, declaring that he did not appear on national television to please the government but to speak what he believes is the truth.

The 82-year-old Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja said he had no reason to feel embarrassed or intimidated by the reaction to his comments. He stressed that his remarks reflected the collective position of Nigeria’s Catholic bishops rather than a personal attack on the government.

Bishop Onaiyekan: “I Went There to Tell the Truth”

Onaiyekan explained that after meeting with President Tinubu, he appeared on television to communicate the concerns raised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria. He insisted that pleasing government officials was never his objective.

The Cardinal’s defiant response has added another layer to an already heated national conversation about the government’s handling of economic hardship, insecurity, democracy and other issues affecting Nigerians. Earlier reports indicate that the bishops had raised several of these concerns during their engagement with the President.

Onaiyekan also made it clear that he was not speaking alone. According to him, the bishops had collectively prepared a statement containing the issues he discussed publicly, meaning his television appearance was intended to echo the position of the wider Catholic episcopate.

“Nobody Can Embarrass Me”- Bishop Onaiyekan

With characteristic bluntness, Onaiyekan declared that at 82, he is not afraid of anybody and cannot be embarrassed by political criticism. He also defended Nigerians’ ability to speak openly, warning that freedom to criticise those in power should never be taken for granted.

His comments have resonated amid continuing debate over the country’s economic difficulties and insecurity. Onaiyekan has previously criticised the government’s handling of insecurity and urged stronger action against kidnapping and other violent crimes.

The political drama now has an unmistakable message: the Presidency may have objected to what was said, but Onaiyekan does not appear interested in taking his words back. At 82, the Cardinal is effectively telling Nigeria’s political establishment that age has not weakened his willingness to speak.

Onaiyeka’s latest response is more than a personal defence—it has become another chapter in the broader debate over speaking truth to power in Nigeria. Whether the Presidency responds again or allows the controversy to fade, the Cardinal has made his position unmistakably clear: he says he went on television to tell the truth, not to please anybody. OGM NewsNG will continue to update you on any development.