2027: What Tinubu Government Is Determined To Do By All Means – Onaiyekan

Cardinal and former Abuja Archbishop John Onaiyekan has voiced apprehension that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is resolved to capture the 2027 polls “by all means,” cautioning that the vast state resources at the disposal of the authorities could compromise the integrity of the voting system.

Onaiyekan further remarked that individuals surrounding the president are feeding him an overly optimistic depiction of the nation that fails to capture the actual hardships experienced by ordinary citizens.

Making these remarks on Friday on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’ show, he spoke shortly after the executive body of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) held a meeting with Tinubu at the State House located in Abuja.

Headed by its leader, Matthew Ndagoso, the CBCN team paid a visit to the president on Tuesday, where Ndagoso presented the clergy’s formal address outlining their deep anxieties regarding national affairs.

In his reply to the bishops, Tinubu pushed back by defending his government’s track record, asserting that the economy is stabilizing and pointing out that extended industrial actions by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have been brought to a close.

Furthermore, the president insisted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) remains impartial, while characterizing his political critics as being frightened by their own shadows and the unpredictable alliances they maintain.

Commenting on the gathering, Onaiyekan explained that the clergy’s presentation to the president was meticulously crafted to accurately display their evaluation of the difficulties burdening Nigerians.

He noted that the religious leaders explicitly told Tinubu that the nation is undergoing severe trauma and that current economic conditions are heavily penalizing impoverished individuals.

He observed that both the president and certain administrative aides present looked visibly displeased as the bishops conveyed critiques contrasting sharply with the praise Tinubu usually receives.

“I was not surprised that he was not looking very happy nor even his colleagues who were there,” Onaiyekan said.

“We knew that this is different from the kind of statements that our president keeps receiving from all kinds of people. And that is one of the things that worries us, that there are so many people hanging around Mr President giving a rosy picture of what the country is, which it is not. Indeed, we have the obligation to help him appreciate the reality of the situation in which we find ourselves. That is the reality that we painted, which I know is not the kind of thing he wanted to hear and the reply shows very clearly.”

Prompted on whether the mood throughout the session could be characterized as tense or frosty, Onaiyekan stated that given the gravity of the nation’s trials, the bishops could hardly be anticipated to engage in mere casual pleasantries with the president.

He mentioned that Tinubu rejected the clergy’s evaluation of national conditions, specifically their claims that the nation is bleeding and that citizens are enduring severe financial distress.

As Onaiyekan recounted, the president countered by maintaining that the country is not bleeding and that the economy is performing well.

“Practically speaking, he told us quite clearly that he did not agree with us,” Onaiyekan said.

The clergyman also voiced anxieties surrounding the organization of upcoming ballots, notably the 2027 elections, noting that Catholic bishops remain troubled by what they view as an explicit resolve by Tinubu’s administration to hold onto authority by leveraging all available assets.

He cautioned that omitting guarantees for transparent and equitable polls where the preferences of citizens are honored could invite serious complications for the nation.

“We are worried about the fact that we see clearly that our government is bent on winning by all means,” he added.

“Unfortunately, they have a lot of means at their disposal to win. Even if we had a free and fair election, the votes of the people may not count.”