Knights Urge Tinubu To Welcome Bishops' Concerns

The Knights of St. John International and Ladies Auxiliary, Nigeria, has issued a letter urging President Bola Tinubu and other national leaders to welcome constructive input from religious leaders and other stakeholders as part of finding real solutions to Nigeria's challenges.

The open letter, signed by Sir Peter Osamgbi, Chairman of the KSJI Strategic Communication Committee, followed the controversy surrounding the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria's visit to Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on July 30. During that meeting, the bishops raised concerns about insecurity, economic hardship, democracy, and the conduct of elections in Nigeria.

The visit became a flashpoint after Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, revealed on Arise Television that Tinubu had disagreed with the bishops' assessment and insisted his administration was making progress. Presidential spokespersons Temitope Ajayi and Daniel Bwala pushed back publicly, arguing it was inappropriate for Onaiyekan to share his account of what was meant to be a private meeting, a response that drew its own wave of criticism from commentators who felt the cardinal was simply speaking honestly.

The KSJI took direct issue with how the bishops' visit was characterized, arguing that raising concerns about the state of the nation should never automatically be read as political opposition.

"The fact that a respected religious institution raises concerns about the state of the nation does not transform that institution into a political opposition or to attribute partisan or political motives to the bishops' intervention. With profound respect to Your Excellency and the high office which you occupy, we consider such a characterisation unfortunate," the letter said.

The group emphasized the CBCN's standing as a long-established moral voice in Nigerian public life.

"The CBCN has, over the years, occupied an important position in Nigeria's public life as a moral and religious institution. The CBCN represents the collective pastoral leadership of the Catholic Church in Nigeria," the letter added.

The group's central request was aimed squarely at how the Presidency handles this kind of engagement going forward.

"The Presidency should always distinguish legitimate dialogue from selfish motives and shun imputing partisan political motives to such engagements, among others," the Knights said.