The Presidency has responded sharply to Catholic bishops and Cardinal John Onaiyekan following their remarks and decision to make details of a meeting with President Bola Tinubu public.Officials said they were displeased with both the tone and the manner in which the meeting was discussed outside.
They argued that such engagements should remain confidential and be handled with decorum.According to the statement, the government expects religious leaders to observe certain protocols when meeting with the President. The Presidency maintained that publicizing the discussions in the way the bishops did was inappropriate.Cardinal Onaiyekan and other bishops had spoken on national issues after the meeting, which drew criticism from the villa.
The Presidency insisted that while dialogue with faith leaders is welcome, it must not be used to create unnecessary tension.The government reiterated its commitment to working with religious institutions for peace and development. It however urged caution and respect for agreed processes when engaging on sensitive matters of state.
