Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has demanded an apology from the Presidency over its criticism of Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan.
Atiku condemned what he described as the Presidency’s attack on the Catholic Church and Onaiyekan, arguing that religious leaders should be allowed to speak on issues affecting the country without being subjected to personal attacks.
In a statement, the former Vice President accused the Bola Tinubu administration of showing growing intolerance towards criticism and urged the Presidency to focus on addressing the concerns raised by Nigerians and religious leaders.
Atiku particularly defended Onaiyekan’s decision to speak publicly after a meeting between President Tinubu and representatives of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria.
According to Atiku, the Cardinal’s decision to speak to the media was an attempt to clarify what transpired during the engagement rather than an act deserving condemnation.
He criticised the response from the President’s media handlers, describing it as disrespectful and arguing that the Presidency should address the issues raised instead of attacking the messenger.
The ADC presidential candidate also defended Catholic bishops against what he described as attempts to undermine their credibility.
Atiku maintained that religious institutions have an important role to play in holding government accountable and speaking about issues affecting ordinary Nigerians.
He therefore called on the Presidency to apologise to Cardinal Onaiyekan and the Catholic Church, stressing that respect for independent institutions and the freedom to express dissent are important components of democratic governance.
The dispute followed criticism from the Presidency of comments made by Onaiyekan after the Catholic bishops’ meeting with President Tinubu.
The development has added another layer to the growing political debate surrounding the Tinubu administration ahead of the 2027 presidential election.