Rev. Fr. Oluoma says criticism of hardship is consistent with the Church’s position, urges presidential aides to engage with facts instead of personal attacks
Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Abuja, Rev. Fr. John Chineye Oluoma, has defended Cardinal John Onaiyekan following criticism of the cleric’s recent comments on Nigeria’s economic situation, accusing some aides of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of responding with personal attacks instead of addressing the concerns raised.
In a statement shared on his Facebook page, Rev. Fr. Oluoma said the controversy began after Cardinal Onaiyekan granted an interview in which he reportedly disagreed with what he described as the Federal Government’s optimistic assessment of the economy, insisting that many Nigerians are still facing severe economic hardship.
According to the priest, the Cardinal merely expressed what millions of ordinary Nigerians experience daily as the rising cost of food, transportation, healthcare and other essential goods continues to put pressure on households across the country.
Rev. Fr. Oluoma criticised what he described as the reaction of some presidential media aides, saying they should have responded by presenting evidence of economic progress instead of questioning the integrity or motives of the respected Catholic cleric.
He argued that government officials have every right to defend the administration’s economic policies but should do so with facts, figures and rational arguments rather than personal attacks.
The priest specifically expressed disappointment over comments made by some presidential spokespersons, saying such responses were unnecessary and failed to address the real issues affecting Nigerians.
According to him, the reality of economic hardship cannot simply be dismissed because ordinary citizens judge the economy by the prices of food, transportation, electricity and other basic necessities they encounter every day.
Rev. Fr. Oluoma said acknowledging the difficulties facing Nigerians does not amount to rejecting the government’s economic reforms.
He noted that President Tinubu has implemented major policy decisions, including reforms that may produce long-term economic benefits, but maintained that government supporters should also recognise the immediate hardship many citizens are enduring.
He said political leaders and their spokespersons should openly acknowledge the pain being experienced by Nigerians while explaining how ongoing reforms are expected to improve the economy over time.
The Catholic priest also rejected suggestions that Cardinal Onaiyekan or the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) were unfairly targeting the Tinubu administration.
According to him, the Cardinal has consistently spoken against governments whenever Nigerians faced hardship, regardless of which political party was in power.
He recalled that Cardinal Onaiyekan had publicly criticised previous administrations, including those of the late General Sani Abacha, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, insisting that his position has remained consistent over the years.
Rev. Fr. Oluoma further accused some Nigerians of applying double standards by supporting the Cardinal’s criticism of the current administration while rejecting similar interventions by religious leaders in other political situations.
He maintained that public officials should be prepared to receive criticism from respected national figures, especially when such comments reflect the experiences of ordinary citizens.
The priest concluded by urging presidential aides to defend government policies through informed public engagement rather than personal attacks, saying constructive debate would better serve both the government and the Nigerian people.
The comments come amid continuing national debate over the impact of the Federal Government’s economic reforms, with officials maintaining that current policies are necessary to stabilise the economy, while many Nigerians continue to express concerns over the rising cost of living and declining purchasing power.
IBN NEWS – FEARLESS, STRONG & RELIABLE
