By Odita Sunday
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has come to the defence of Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, describing criticisms against him by two presidential aides as disrespectful and unwarranted.
The rights advocacy group accused Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Communications, and Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, of unfairly attacking the respected cleric following his television interview on the recent meeting between President Tinubu and the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, HURIWA said Cardinal Onaiyekan acted in the public interest by speaking on issues discussed during the meeting, insisting that his comments reflected the concerns of millions of Nigerians battling poverty and economic hardship.
The group was reacting to remarks by Bwala, who reportedly argued that the Cardinal merely expressed the views of Catholics, and Ajayi, who accused the cleric of abusing the privilege of participating in what he described as a private engagement with the President.
Ajayi had maintained that the Catholic Bishops fulfilled their moral obligation by presenting their concerns directly to President Tinubu, while the President responded respectfully to each issue raised.
He argued that the dignity and confidentiality of the meeting should have been preserved, adding that it was inappropriate for one of the participants to publicly discuss the engagement shortly afterwards.
According to HURIWA, the comments by the presidential aides were ill-informed and failed to appreciate Cardinal Onaiyekan’s long-standing role in Nigeria’s democratic and national discourse.
The organisation described the Cardinal as a respected elder statesman, patriot and cleric who has consistently spoken truth to power across successive administrations, noting that he had engaged Nigerian presidents for decades without compromising his integrity.
HURIWA further argued that the meeting between President Tinubu and the Catholic Bishops was neither secret nor confidential, pointing out that it was widely covered by the media and followed by public reactions from political leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2027 presidential hopeful, Mr. Peter Obi.
The rights group dismissed claims that Cardinal Onaiyekan breached any privilege, insisting that his interview with Arise Television merely contributed to public debate on issues of national importance.
It also maintained that the cleric’s remarks served as a timely reminder to politicians and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of their constitutional and moral responsibility to ensure free, fair, peaceful and transparent elections in 2027.
HURIWA therefore urged the presidential aides to accord Cardinal Onaiyekan the respect due to his age, office and longstanding contributions to nation-building, stressing that public officials should welcome constructive criticism rather than attack respected voices calling for accountability.
About the Author
