Wike Faults Onaiyekan, Says Religious Leaders Should Not Take Sides

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has criticised Cardinal John Onaiyekan over his comments on President Bola Tinubu, saying religious leaders should avoid open partisanship.

Wike said Onaiyekan was not neutral in the 2023 elections and argued that faith leaders should be careful not to take sides in a way that divides their followers.

Punch and Daily Post reported the minister’s remarks on Tuesday. The comments followed Onaiyekan’s earlier criticism of the Tinubu administration and the Presidency’s response to the Catholic cleric.

Wike said religious leaders have a right to speak on national issues, but should do so in a way that does not turn their platforms into political camps. He also questioned whether Onaiyekan could fairly present himself as neutral after his position during the last general election.

The exchange has added another layer to the argument over how far religious leaders should go when commenting on political leadership and governance. Onaiyekan had not issued a fresh response to Wike’s comments in the reports.

Sources: Punch, Daily Post