Kalu urges Tinubu to listen to Catholic Bishops amid economic criticism

Orji Kalu Senator,has urged President Bola Tinubu to pay close attention to the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), saying the bishops remain one of the country’s most credible voices on the nation’s economic and social challenges and are unlikely to mislead the president.

Kalu, who represents Abia North Senatorial District, made the remarks in a video posted on his Facebook page while reacting to last week’s meeting between President Tinubu and the leadership of the CBCN at the State House, Abuja, as well as the public exchanges that followed between the Presidency and senior Catholic clerics.

The former Abia State governor cautioned presidential aides against dismissing the bishops’ concerns, arguing that their intervention was intended to help improve governance rather than score political points.

“Their advice is not for or against anybody. It is for any sitting president to see things the way they should be. Even if we politicians are lying to him and saying things are good everywhere, the Catholic bishops can never say that. That is why they are Catholic bishops,” Kalu said.

He described the CBCN as the “conscience of the country” and urged the Presidency to carefully study the bishops’ recommendations instead of engaging in public disputes over their comments.

Kalu acknowledged the economic hardship confronting Nigerians but said the challenges could not be blamed entirely on the Tinubu administration. While noting that the government had made progress on macroeconomic reforms, he said the benefits had yet to translate into improved living conditions for ordinary citizens.

According to him, presidential advisers should focus on converting macroeconomic gains into tangible relief at the household level rather than dismissing critical feedback from respected national institutions.

The senator also sought to correct what he described as a widespread misconception about the Catholic Church’s leadership, clarifying that Archbishop Emeritus John Onaiyekan is not the president of the CBCN. He said the conference is currently headed by Archbishop Matthew Ndagoso.

Kalu’s intervention follows last Tuesday’s meeting between President Tinubu and Catholic bishops at the Presidential Villa, where the church leaders warned that Nigeria was “bleeding” under the weight of economic hardship, insecurity and worsening living conditions.

During the closed-door meeting, Tinubu defended his administration’s reforms, including the removal of petrol subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market, arguing that the policies had begun stabilising the economy. He also pointed to the end of prolonged university strikes and insisted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) remained independent.

The meeting triggered a public exchange after Cardinal John Onaiyekan said in a television interview that the president appeared displeased with the bishops’ frank assessment of the country’s situation.

Responding, presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala dismissed the cardinal’s remarks, saying they did not represent the views of all Christians and alleging that some elements within the Catholic Church were politically aligned with Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 election.

Kalu, however, urged both the Presidency and the Catholic Church to move beyond the public exchanges and focus on addressing the substantive issues raised by the bishops, insisting that their intervention should be seen as constructive criticism aimed at advancing national development.