The National President of the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), Most Rev. Dr. David O. C. Onuoha, has defended the recent intervention by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), insisting that the bishops spoke on behalf of all Nigerians and not just the Christian community.
Speaking in Owerri, Archbishop Onuoha described attempts to politicise the bishops’ meeting with President Bola Tinubu as regrettable, maintaining that the issues they raised reflect the realities confronting citizens across the country.
According to the cleric, the concerns presented to the President were not limited to religious interests but addressed national challenges affecting people regardless of ethnicity, religion or political affiliation.
He said the bishops highlighted genuine issues such as economic hardship, insecurity and poverty, stressing that these realities continue to impact millions of Nigerians.
Onuoha urged the Federal Government to view the Church as a partner in national development rather than treating its observations as political opposition.
The CCN president noted that religious leaders maintain close contact with ordinary citizens across both urban and rural communities, giving them firsthand knowledge of how government policies affect everyday life. He argued that such perspectives should be appreciated as objective assessments capable of helping government improve its policies.
Onuoha also cautioned President Tinubu against relying on advisers who present an inaccurate picture of conditions in the country merely to retain their positions. According to him, officials who shield the government from the realities facing Nigerians ultimately do more harm than good.
The archbishop stressed that effective leadership requires the willingness to accept constructive criticism regardless of its source.
Referencing the biblical teaching that “the truth shall set you free,” he said leaders committed to public welfare must be prepared to listen to honest counsel. He commended the Catholic Bishops’ Conference for what he described as its longstanding tradition of speaking courageously on matters affecting national wellbeing.
Onuoha warned against attempts to single out or vilify members of the Catholic bishops over their comments, describing such reactions as counterproductive. He argued that ignoring well-intentioned advice could result in policies that fail to improve the lives of citizens. According to the cleric, many government reforms introduced over the past three years have brought more hardship than relief for many Nigerians.
He therefore urged the Federal Government to reassess its economic and governance policies with the aim of delivering greater prosperity, improving security and addressing the expectations of citizens across the country. The archbishop maintained that reviewing existing policies to achieve better outcomes remains essential if government hopes to restore public confidence and improve the welfare of Nigerians.
