Senator representing Abia North, Orji Kalu, has described the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) as “the conscience of the country”, urging President Bola Tinubu to carefully consider the concerns recently raised by the clerics rather than dismiss them as political criticism.
Kalu made the remarks in a video shared on his Facebook page while reacting to the recent meeting between Tinubu and the leadership of the CBCN at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, as well as the public debate that followed.
The bishops, led by CBCN President Matthew Ndagoso, had met with the president to express concerns over worsening economic hardship, insecurity and the general state of the nation. Tinubu, in response, defended his administration’s economic reforms, insisting the economy was stabilising. He also maintained that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) remains impartial and said his political opponents were “afraid of their own shadows.”
The meeting sparked further discussions after Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Onaiyekan, claimed during an Arise Television interview that Tinubu appeared displeased with the bishops’ message, which described Nigeria as “bleeding” under the weight of economic hardship affecting ordinary citizens.
Presidential aide Daniel Bwala later criticised Onaiyekan’s comments, arguing they did not reflect the views of all Christians and alleging that the Catholic Church was supporting Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
Reacting to the controversy, Kalu said the bishops’ intervention was aimed at strengthening governance rather than attacking the president.
“To me, the Catholic Bishops are the conscience of the country. And once they give advice, their advice is not for or against,” he said.
“Their advice is just for any sitting president, any sitting leader, to see things the way it should be.”
The former Abia State governor acknowledged that Nigerians were facing significant economic difficulties but argued that the situation should not be blamed entirely on the Tinubu administration.
“There’s difficulty in Nigeria, there’s no doubt. And it’s not the fault of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he stated.
Kalu noted that while the government had made progress in stabilising the macroeconomy, the benefits had yet to be widely felt by ordinary Nigerians.
“And we have been able to capture the macro-economy, and the micro is what we are having problems, as I’ve always told people,” he said.
He further stressed that the bishops had a moral obligation to tell the president the truth, unlike politicians who might present a more favourable picture.
“So there’s nothing new about the Catholic bishops visiting; they are clergymen who are conscious of what they speak and what they say,” he added.
“And I support the visit of the Catholic bishops; it prods the president to work harder because the Catholic bishops are just telling him the way it is.
“Even if we politicians are lying to him and say things are good everywhere, the Catholic bishops can never say that. And that’s why they are Catholic bishops.”
Kalu also clarified that Cardinal John Onaiyekan is not the president of the CBCN, describing public claims suggesting otherwise as inaccurate.
He concluded by urging those working closely with Tinubu to reflect on the bishops’ observations and use them to improve governance.
“It’s left for us who work with President Tinubu to take back to our rooms and analyse what they say and come out with a beautiful thing that will make Nigerians happy,” he said.