APC Chieftain Blames Tinubu’s Aides for Catholic Bishops’ Face-Off
By Matthew Eloyi
The Deputy Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Support Groups Council, Dr AK Peters, has blamed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s aides for escalating the recent disagreement between the President and the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
Peters, who is also a Knight of the Catholic Church, said the bishops’ visit to the President was undertaken in good faith and was intended to strengthen the longstanding cordial relationship between the Catholic Church and the Federal Government.
Speaking on AIT’s Kakaaki programme, Peters said the Catholic Church had made enormous contributions to Nigeria’s development, particularly in education, healthcare and social services, stressing that there was no reason for the disagreement to degenerate into a political confrontation.
He recalled that the relationship between the Federal Government and the Catholic Church had recently been reinforced by the visit of the Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, to Nigeria, where he was received by President Tinubu at the State House.
According to him, the visit was part of activities marking 50 years of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the Holy See.
Peters said the bishops, during their meeting with Tinubu, appreciated the President for maintaining the cordial relationship and also acknowledged areas where his administration had performed well, while drawing his attention to issues they believed required urgent intervention.
“The bishops have spoken. They met Mr. President and told the president what they feel is not going so well in the country, and commended Mr. President for what they know he is already doing well,” he said.
He, however, argued that the controversy surrounding the meeting was largely created by presidential aides who, according to him, unnecessarily amplified the issues raised by the bishops.
Peters specifically cited the issue of returning schools to their original missionary owners, saying the President had told the bishops that he was pleased they raised the matter and recalled that he returned schools to missions while he was governor of Lagos State.
“What they expected him to say probably was that, as president now, talk to governors of the states that have not returned schools completely to the missions to do so. But the handlers of Mr. President blew this thing out of proportion,” he said.
The APC chieftain warned that the handling of the controversy could have serious political implications, particularly given the prominent role of Catholics within the APC and the Tinubu administration.
He listed several prominent Catholics serving in the administration and occupying key political positions, including Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; Minister of Works, David Umahi; Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma; Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia; and Senator Simon Lalong, among others.
Peters said it was therefore unnecessary for the President’s aides to further inflame the situation by making comments that could alienate members of the Catholic community who support the APC administration.
He said the President should instead listen to the concerns raised by the bishops and address areas where his administration needed to improve.
According to him, while the Tinubu administration could not be said to have performed perfectly in every sector, there were areas where it had made genuine efforts, particularly in the fight against insecurity.
“The security situation has been bad. We know the government is grappling with how to handle the issue, but we also can appreciate the fact that the Forest Guards has been established by this government,” he said.
He also cited the progress towards the establishment of state police and the expansion of Nigerian Army divisional formations as evidence of measures being taken by the administration to tackle insecurity.
Peters, nevertheless, criticised the public responses of some presidential aides to the bishops’ concerns.
“I do not think I like the position of Daniel Bwala. I do not even think the elderly Bayo Onanuga has done well in handling this thing,” he said.
The APC chieftain also rejected attempts to label the retired Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, an “Obidient”, describing such comments as disrespectful to a senior Catholic Church leader.
“Is His Eminence John Cardinal Onaiyekan an obidient? The president’s handlers should not compound issues for members of the APC, who are Catholic, very distinguished ones, for that matter,” he said.
Peters recalled an incident involving Senate President Akpabio, saying it demonstrated how political leaders could benefit from listening to religious leaders rather than dismissing their counsel as political intervention.
He said that during a Thanksgiving Mass in Akwa Ibom State in January, a priest preached about building bridges, forgiveness and reconciliation, after which Akpabio announced that he had listened to the sermon and would drop charges he had instituted against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Peters said the same willingness to listen should be demonstrated by the President following the bishops’ recent intervention.
“We expect also that now that the bishops themselves have come and spoken, the issues that we think we should take immediately, we should listen to them and do better where we have to do better,” he said.
He further disclosed that members of the Catholic community were unhappy with the manner in which the bishops’ concerns had been portrayed in the public space.
“How can you say that Cardinal Onaiyekan is an obidient? How has he demonstrated that he is an obedient? How can you reduce a Cardinal to the level of calling him an obidient?” he asked.
Peters, who reaffirmed his membership of the APC, said he and other Catholic members of the party remained committed to the Tinubu administration but cautioned that comments by presidential aides should not undermine their support for the government.
“I am a member of the APC, and there are many of us responsible members of the APC, leaders of this party, who are driving the campaign of Mr. President,” he said.
He maintained that the Catholic Church remained a “worthy collaborator and partner” in Nigeria’s development and urged all parties to prevent the controversy from damaging the relationship between the Church and government.
Peters also said the bishops had asked President Tinubu to invite Pope Leo XIV to Nigeria, arguing that a visit by the Pontiff could provide an opportunity for further engagement on the challenges confronting the country.
He recalled that Nigerian government delegations had participated in events surrounding the election and inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, including a delegation led by the President himself.
“The Pope is a world leader. The Pope is a leader of peace. The Church Fathers, the members of the Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria, are advocates of peace,” he said.
He urged Nigerians and political leaders to avoid turning every disagreement into a political battle, warning that excessive politicisation of national issues was contributing to the tension in the country.
Peters, who described himself as a writer and author of nine books on leadership, said Nigeria’s fundamental challenge was the failure to build a strong sense of citizenship above narrow ethnic and sectional interests.
He said the country needed to move from building a nation of “indigenes” to building a nation of citizens, arguing that doing so would unlock Nigeria’s enormous potential.
According to him, Nigerians must also confront what he described as the “seven I’s” responsible for holding the country back, including indiscipline, insincerity, injustice, intolerance and impunity.
Peters further appealed for restraint as political parties prepare for the next elections, declaring that the APC remained the most structurally prepared political party in the country.
He warned, however, that the party and the Tinubu administration should not allow the current controversy with the Catholic Church to undermine their political fortunes.
“The All Progressive Congress seems to be the only party that is ready for the elections today. They should not carry the head of APC and the government of President Tinubu and hit them together with the Catholic Church,” he said.
He stressed that Nigerians were increasingly uncomfortable with the heated political atmosphere and urged the government, the APC and religious institutions to prioritise dialogue, reconciliation and national development.
Peters said the Catholic Church had no interest in undermining the government, insisting that its intervention was driven by its concern for the welfare and stability of Nigeria.