Former Kaduna Central senator Shehu Sani has defended Catholic bishops against claims of partisanship, saying they have a consistent record of speaking truth to successive governments.
Sani’s comments on his verified X account on Saturday followed a debate sparked by remarks from Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the former Archbishop of Abuja. Onaiyekan told Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Friday that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) informed President Bola Tinubu during a recent State House meeting that the economic situation was taking a heavy toll on poor Nigerians.
Critics, including presidential aide Bayo Onanuga’s associate Daniel Bwala in related commentary, suggested the cardinal’s intervention was more political than spiritual and defended the administration’s economic assessment with reference to official data.
In response, Sani wrote: “From the era of Military rule and throughout the period of civilian Governments, the Catholic Bishops have a consistent history of telling truth to power.”
He added: “They have never been partisan. Every President they visited, they bring him a gift of Bitter Kola instead of Olive Oil.”
The former senator, a longtime public commentator and human rights activist, argued the bishops have never aligned with any political party or administration and have offered the same forthright counsel to leaders across different eras.
Sani’s intervention comes amid wider public discussion of the economic pressures facing Nigerians under the Tinubu administration and the role of religious leaders in national discourse.
