ABUJA — The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has defended John Cardinal Onaiyekan and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), insisting that their criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration reflects the everyday experiences of millions of Nigerians rather than partisan politics.
In a statement issued Tuesday by its National Spokesman, Luka Binniyat, the Forum condemned what it described as attempts by presidential aides and political allies to discredit the former Archbishop of Abuja after he questioned the government’s handling of the economy and national security.
The MBF said Cardinal Onaiyekan’s comments were consistent with concerns earlier presented by Catholic bishops during their July 24 meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, where they warned that economic reforms had increased hardship and that insecurity remained widespread across the country.
According to the Forum, dismissing the Cardinal’s views amounts to ignoring the daily struggles of Nigerians battling rising food prices, inflation, unemployment and persistent violence.
The organization also rejected allegations that the senior cleric was engaging in partisan politics, describing him as a respected religious leader whose public interventions have consistently focused on justice, peace and national unity.
Turning to security, the MBF argued that despite the sacrifices of the Nigerian Armed Forces, large parts of the Middle Belt continue to experience deadly attacks that have displaced millions, destroyed farming communities and worsened the humanitarian crisis.
The Forum cited Benue, Plateau, Southern Kaduna, Niger and parts of Borno among areas where residents continue to face violence, resulting in abandoned farmlands, destroyed homes and thousands of internally displaced persons with limited government assistance.
It maintained that while security personnel continue to make significant sacrifices, government efforts have yet to halt the persistent attacks on rural communities or enable displaced families to return safely to their ancestral homes.
On the economy, the MBF maintained that official claims of improvement do not reflect realities on the ground. It argued that although the national minimum wage has increased from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000, soaring inflation, rising fuel prices and the sharp depreciation of the naira have significantly eroded workers’ purchasing power, leaving many households worse off than before the reforms.
The Forum said the administration should welcome constructive criticism from respected national figures instead of allowing political allies to attack those raising legitimate concerns about governance.
“The Cardinal merely echoed what millions of Nigerians experience every day. He spoke neither as a politician nor as an opposition figure. He spoke as a patriotic Nigerian and a respected religious leader committed to justice, peace and the welfare of all citizens,” the statement said.
The MBF urged the Tinubu administration to focus on reversing the country’s economic hardship, restoring security across troubled regions and addressing the plight of millions of displaced Nigerians, rather than engaging in public disputes with religious leaders who speak on behalf of suffering citizens.
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