‘Tinubu Has No Respect for the Catholic Church and Christian Faith; He’s Sending Attack Dogs Against the Church’ – Rotimi Amaechi'
Former Rivers State Governor, ex-Minister of Transportation, and African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate Rotimi Amaechi has sharply criticised President Bola Tinubu and his aides, accusing them of disrespecting the Catholic Church and the broader Christian faith.Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, 4 August 2026, Amaechi said the presidency was deploying “attack dogs” to intimidate and silence the Church after it raised concerns about Nigeria’s economic hardship and insecurity. “My problem is with Tinubu and his aides. He is sending out more attack dogs against the Church, and he has no respect for the Catholic Church and the Christian faith. They should leave the Catholic Church alone. They should respect God and the Catholic faith. They should stop insulting Christians and the leadership of the Christian faith.”Amaechi, a practising Catholic, emphasised that his intervention was not primarily political. He said he had suspended mourning for his late mother to speak out because the comments targeted his faith. He stressed personal religious tolerance, noting that his home includes space for Muslim staff to worship alongside a Christian chapel, and argued that people should respect one another’s God rather than insult it.He also claimed a double standard: Muslim clerics regularly criticise the government in sermons without facing equivalent backlash, while Christian leaders are “assaulted” for doing the same. “We’ve been insulted because we are Christians,” he stated.The controversy stems from a closed-door meeting on 28 July 2026 at the Presidential Villa. A delegation from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), led by its president Archbishop Matthew Ndagoso and including Cardinal John Onaiyekan (Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja) and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, met President Tinubu. They raised concerns about worsening economic hardship, inflation, poverty, insecurity, and the credibility of the 2027 elections.Tinubu reportedly rejected their assessment, insisting the economy was improving, the nation was not “bleeding,” and reforms were delivering stability. He also defended the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).Cardinal Onaiyekan later recounted the private discussion in an interview on ARISE News, saying the bishops told the President the truth as they saw it from the ground, but he disagreed. He expressed worry that few people around Tinubu were willing to tell him hard truths and raised fears about the administration’s approach to the 2027 polls.The Presidency responded firmly. Aides including Temitope Ajayi accused Onaiyekan of breaching confidentiality and abusing clerical privilege. Other voices, including Daniel Bwala and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, criticised the Cardinal, with some suggesting political bias.Amaechi defended the status of Catholic bishops, comparing their territorial oversight to that of state governors, and described a Cardinal as someone who could have become Pope or who has voted in papal elections. He argued that religious leaders have both a moral and constitutional right—and duty—to speak on issues of governance, poverty, and insecurity.This exchange occurs against a backdrop of ongoing national challenges: high living costs following economic reforms, persistent insecurity in several regions, and rising political temperatures ahead of 2027. Religious leaders across faiths have periodically voiced concerns about the state of the nation. Amaechi’s comments also touch on long-standing sensitivities around religion in Nigerian politics, even as he insisted he does not believe in ethnic or religious divisions for political gain.The Catholic Church in Nigeria has historically played a prominent role in education, healthcare, social services, and public advocacy. Previous administrations have also faced criticism from the Church on security and governance issues.
image from Wikimedia
As Nigeria navigates economic pressures and prepares for another electoral cycle, exchanges like this underscore the continuing intersection of faith, politics, and public accountability in the country. The Catholic Church has indicated it delivered its message and is focused on whether governance improves rather than trading further public words.