Wike Slams Cardinal Onaiyekan over Alleged Political Bias in 2023 Elections

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has criticised the Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, accusing him of failing to remain politically neutral during the 2023 general election.

Wike made the remarks on Tuesday during a media briefing in Abuja while reacting to the recent exchange between the Presidency and the Catholic cleric following the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

After the closed-door meeting, Onaiyekan reportedly suggested that some presidential aides were presenting an overly positive picture of the country to the President while attention remained focused on the 2027 elections. The comment drew criticism from the Presidency, which described it as an abuse of the opportunity granted during the meeting.

Responding to the development, Wike said religious leaders should maintain objectivity in their public comments to preserve their credibility and avoid the impression of political partisanship.

The minister said criticism of government policies is acceptable but argued that leaders should also acknowledge areas where progress has been made.

According to him, Cardinal Onaiyekan’s political preference during the 2023 election was widely known, making it difficult for some people to view his comments as completely impartial.

Wike maintained that balanced assessments are more constructive, adding that while governments should be criticised where necessary, achievements should also be recognised.

He argued that consistently focusing only on negative aspects of governance could cause public comments to be viewed as politically motivated rather than objective advice.

The minister said leaders should encourage improvements by recognising both successes and shortcomings instead of concentrating solely on criticism.