Cardinal Onaiyekan Clarifies Catholic Bishops’ Meeting with Tinubu Was Not About Conversion

The Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, said the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria has no intention of responding to government spokespersons.

The bishops met President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on July 28, 2026.

Speaking on Eagle 102.5 FM’s Frontline programme, Onaiyekan explained that the bishops had already delivered their message and were only interested in seeing whether it would influence governance.

He rejected the notion that they spoke solely for Catholics, insisting their intervention was based on a moral responsibility to all Nigerians.

“We didn’t go there just as Catholic bishops pushing the Catholic agenda. No. We went there as people who are with the spiritual mandate to speak to anybody in the name of God.”
— John Cardinal Onaiyekan

Regarding the Presidency’s reaction, Onaiyekan refused to engage in the controversy, stating, “I would not even answer that question. We have no response for them. We have spoken, and the only response we are waiting for is whether it is affecting the way they are governing.”

He added that some government supporters may have their own ideas about what should be said on behalf of their principal, but that is their concern, not his.

Onaiyekan noted that social media is already filled with reactions from Nigerians, which he considers more than enough.

The audience with President Tinubu was requested by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria after months of waiting for approval.

He clarified that the meeting was neither an evangelistic mission nor an attempt to advance Catholic interests, but an opportunity to present the bishops’ concerns about governance and the welfare of Nigerians as part of their pastoral responsibility.

“We didn’t go there to preach to him and try to see whether we could convert him to our Catholic Church, but we went there to share our views and thoughts about the government which he heads, hoping that our ideas will be taken into consideration.”
— John Cardinal Onaiyekan

Onaiyekan expressed hope that the government would remain open to further engagement on issues affecting Nigerians, saying the dialogue should not end with that visit.

The bishops are still expecting another opportunity for a more detailed conversation, possibly an invitation to provide additional information beyond the ten‑minute talk they were able to give.