Cardinal John Onaiyekan
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has warned against what it described as growing attempts to intimidate respected religious leaders for speaking on matters of national importance, insisting that Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, committed no offence by publicly reflecting on the recent meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
The rights organisation said criticism of the Cardinal by presidential aides Daniel Bwala and Temitope Ajayi sends a troubling message about the shrinking space for constructive criticism in a constitutional democracy, stressing that no public official should seek to discourage patriotic citizens from holding leaders accountable.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, HURIWA maintained that Onaiyekan merely exercised his constitutional right to comment on issues that directly affect millions of Nigerians.
The association argued that the meeting between President Tinubu and the Catholic bishops was not a confidential engagement but a widely publicised event covered by the media, making allegations that the cleric breached privilege “misplaced and untenable.”
According to HURIWA, democracy thrives when respected voices—including religious leaders, civil society organisations and elder statesmen—are free to evaluate government policies without fear of vilification.
The group said Onaiyekan’s intervention reflected the concerns of ordinary Nigerians over governance, insecurity, poverty and the conduct of future elections, adding that his comments transcended religious interests.
HURIWA dismissed suggestions that the Cardinal spoke only for Catholics, arguing that his moral authority has, over several decades, extended beyond denominational boundaries to encompass broader national issues.
The association also accused the presidential aides of failing to appreciate Onaiyekan’s long-standing role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution, noting that the cleric has consistently engaged successive administrations regardless of the party in power.
It further questioned claims that the Arise Television interview amounted to a breach of confidence, pointing out that several political leaders and public commentators openly analysed the same meeting without attracting official condemnation.
HURIWA urged government officials to welcome constructive criticism as an essential ingredient of democratic governance rather than treating dissenting opinions as acts of hostility.
The organisation maintained that attempts to discredit respected national figures for expressing their views risk weakening public confidence in democratic institutions and narrowing the space for healthy public discourse.
Reaffirming its support for Cardinal Onaiyekan, HURIWA said the former Archbishop deserves commendation—not condemnation—for continuing to speak on issues affecting the welfare, unity and democratic future of Nigeria.