Rotimi Amaechi Defends Cardinal Onaiyekan Against Government Intimidation Claims

African Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate Rotimi Amaechi accused the Nigerian Presidency of attempting to intimidate Cardinal John Onaiyekan. The conflict began after the Archbishop Emeritus revealed details from a closed-door meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, reporting that the country is bleeding due to severe economic hardship.

While the Presidency criticized the cardinal for breaching confidentiality and defended its economic reforms, Amaechi argued that the cleric's comments were based on genuine concern over poverty and corruption rather than political motivation. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also defended the cleric, urging the government to prioritize national security and economic challenges.

Previously, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike questioned the cardinal's neutrality, arguing that repeated criticisms of the government make it difficult to view him as impartial. Amaechi countered these claims on Channels Television’s Politics Today, stating that the Catholic Church has no political leaning and that the cardinal supports no specific politician.