Cardinal in Nigeria Advocates for “inclusive governance” to Resolve Country’s Challenges

The Nigerian Catholic Church leader advised President Tinubu to go beyond official reports and filtered briefings from his aides in order to grasp the true state of the nation. 

“My advice for Mr. President is to find ways and means of finding out what the Nigerian people are actually going through, not just listening to those around him who are always praising him to the skies,” he said.

He continued, “I'm not telling him to go and live in Mpape for two days, although that would not be a bad idea, but he should know how people in Mpape are surviving. He should know how families manage with meager salaries. That way, he can be moved to do more to raise the level of well-being of Nigerians.”

Reflecting on the last two years of President Tinubu’s administration, the Nigerian Cardinal offered a sobering assessment. 

“I don't think we are unfair to the government if we say that in the last two years, our level of well-being has crashed considerably,” he said and continued, “The government may say it's not their fault. They may say they’ve done their best. But the government is there to ensure that does not happen. It is there to at least maintain, if not improve, the living conditions of the people.”

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He further described the two years of President Tinubu’s administration as crucial, saying, “Two years is halfway through. It’s a good time for the President to reflect and make necessary adjustments. If he changes gear and makes policies that genuinely target the poor, they will remember him forever.”

However, Cardinal Onaiyekan warned that continuing on the current path could lead to bad consequences, saying “If he continues like this for the rest of his term,  if we have a free and fair election, he will not win the next election in 2027. How can the country bring him back if we are not feeling good?”

Cardinal Onaiyekan urged faith leaders and civil society actors in the West African country not to remain silent in the face of growing hardship. 

“It is our moral responsibility to stand with the people and hold leaders accountable. Silence in the face of suffering is complicity,” he said.

The Nigerian Cardinal, who started his Episcopal ministry in January 1983 as Auxiliary Bishop of Ilorin Diocese, also lamented the growing number of young Nigerians seeking to leave the country. 

“Every day, many young boys and girls who visit me tell me they are anxious to go abroad. They want me to help them. And I say, ‘Don’t go abroad. Don’t run away from your country.’ We are 250 million people in Nigeria. This is our country. We have to work to make it better for all of us. And we shall win. We shall win,” he said.

He urged President Tinubu to focus fully on governance now that the legal battles over the 2023 election are over. 

“The elections were over two years ago. He does not have to worry again whether he won or not. The Supreme Court said he won. We have accepted it. Now, he should govern to make life as livable as possible for Nigerians,” the Cardinal said.

The 81-year-old Cardinal further called for renewed focus on security, economic improvement, and a genuine fight against corruption. 

“These were the things his predecessor, Buhari, said he would do, but he did not do them,” Cardinal Onaiyekan said, adding, “Now it is Tinubu’s turn to prove that leadership is not just about winning elections but about serving the people with integrity and compassion.”

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Abah Anthony John is a Nigerian Catholic journalist with passion for Church communication and media apostolate. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Benue State University, Makurdi in Benue State Nigeria. He has a background in print, electronic and multi-media production.