The National President of the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), Archbishop David O. C. Onuoha, has defended the recent intervention by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), insisting that the bishops spoke on behalf of all Nigerians rather than advancing any political agenda.
Speaking in Owerri, Imo State, Archbishop Onuoha described attempts to politicise the bishops’ message as unfortunate, arguing that the issues they presented to President Bola Tinubu reflect the realities confronting millions of citizens across the country.
According to the cleric, the concerns raised by the Catholic bishops extend beyond religious interests and affect Nigerians regardless of tribe, ethnicity or faith. He said the country’s economic hardship, rising insecurity and widespread poverty are national issues that deserve serious attention rather than political interpretation.
“The Roman Catholic Bishops Conference spoke not for the Church alone but for the entire nation,” Onuoha stated, stressing that the matters presented before the President remain the daily experiences of ordinary Nigerians.
Archbishop Onuoha urged the Federal Government to regard religious institutions as partners in nation-building instead of treating their observations as criticism.
He noted that religious leaders interact closely with people in both urban and rural communities and are therefore well positioned to understand the true impact of government policies on citizens. According to him, churches witness firsthand the struggles faced by families and should be trusted to provide sincere and objective assessments of national conditions.
The CCN president also cautioned President Tinubu against relying on advisers who present what he described as an inaccurate picture of the country’s situation. He argued that officials who conceal the realities confronting Nigerians in order to protect their positions ultimately do more harm than good to the administration.
Onuoha maintained that leaders committed to public welfare must be willing to receive honest feedback, regardless of where it originates. Quoting the Bible, he said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free,” adding that genuine leadership requires the courage to embrace uncomfortable truths.
Archbishop Onuoha praised the Catholic Bishops’ Conference for what he described as its long-standing tradition of speaking boldly on issues affecting national development and the wellbeing of citizens.
He warned against attempts to single out individual bishops for criticism, insisting that their interventions are motivated by concern for the country rather than political interests. According to him, dismissing voices that call attention to national challenges could prevent the government from making policy adjustments capable of improving the lives of Nigerians.
The cleric argued that many of the government’s economic reforms over the past three years have brought greater hardship than relief for citizens.
He urged the Federal Government to review policies that have placed additional pressure on households and prioritise measures capable of improving living standards and strengthening national security. Onuoha maintained that Nigerians expect policies that deliver tangible improvements in their daily lives and called on the government to focus on addressing those expectations through meaningful reforms.
