Former Minister Rotimi Amaechi has launched a blistering attack on President Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of disrespecting the Catholic Church and Christian faith after officials criticized Catholic bishops who raised concerns about Nigeria’s hardship and election integrity.
In a fiery television interview, Amaechi declared: “What the President and his men are doing is insulting my faith. They are insulting the Catholic Church.”
The former Rivers State governor defended the bishops’ meeting with Tinubu, insisting their questions about the nation’s worsening living conditions and INEC’s fairness were entirely justified.
“Religious leaders should criticize government. The Church has a responsibility to speak when people are suffering,” Amaechi said, pointing out that the Catholic Church had similarly criticized former President Buhari without facing government backlash.
Amaechi saved particular fury for the treatment of Cardinal John Onaiyekan, warning: “A cardinal is somebody who could have been Pope. When you insult a cardinal, you are insulting about 35 million Catholics.”
He rejected claims that religious leaders were pursuing political agendas, stating: “The only thing that pains Cardinal Onaiyekan is the level of poverty, hardship and corruption in the country.”
“They should leave the Catholic Church alone,” Amaechi pleaded. “Respect God, respect the Christian faith and respect our bishops.”
The former minister, who is currently mourning his mother’s death, said he set aside his grief to speak out because the government’s response risks deepening religious divisions in Nigeria.
