The Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has expressed concern over the role religion plays in societal transformation, particularly in how politicians choose which churches they attend.
He pointed out that many greedy politicians avoid churches that challenge their corrupt actions, opting instead for pastors and congregations that won’t hold them accountable.
Onaiyekan said, “I have noticed in Nigeria that greedy people have a way of choosing the kind of churches they go to and which preachers they listen to.
“If they go to a church where they are constantly being challenged and made uncomfortable, they won’t come back next Sunday, but we need more of that.”
He stated this in a Channels TV’s interview titled ‘Inside Sources’ with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme on Sunday.
Onaiyekan also lamented that simply filling churches with worshippers or building large cathedrals was insufficient if the faithful were not being transformed.
He argued that religious institutions in Nigeria must conduct a self-evaluation to ensure they are promoting the right message.
“The official religious institutions we have in Nigeria have a task to do self-evaluation. They should ask themselves: have we been projecting the right message of our faiths? If we have been doing it, we will not have this kind of outcome,” he said.
He further criticised the current state of Nigerian religion, noting, “We cannot just be rejoicing that our churches are full, that we are building big churches. Very good, but we still want to see where is godliness in all of these. And if religion does not lead to godliness, it is even worse than none at all.”
The Cardinal also spoke about the country’s leadership, highlighting how corrupt leaders have mismanaged Nigeria’s resources and deepened societal inequalities.
“There is so much impunity. People take a lot of things that don’t belong to them and nobody asks them. Whereas if a poor man steals a piece of yam in the village, they throw him in jail for six months or more. So, there is something wrong with the justice system,” Onaiyekan lamented.
Onaiyekan’s advice to Tinubu
In the same interview, Onaiyekan weighed in on the political climate following the 2023 elections, urging President Bola Tinubu to focus on governance and serve all Nigerians equally.
Despite the All Progressives Congress securing the highest number of votes, Onaiyekan reminded Tinubu that many Nigerians voted against him, and that as President, he had a responsibility to govern inclusively.
He emphasised, “There are Nigerians who did not vote for APC. Granted that APC got the highest number of votes, and that is why they have the right to rule us.
“But they also forget that there are millions of Nigerians who did not (Vote for the APC). Whatever the rules say, the reality is that more people vote against Mr President than those who voted for him.”
The Cardinal called on the President to switch from campaign mode to governance mode, stressing that the time for political rewards was over.
“Mr President, it’s about time you switched from campaign mode to governance mode. Elections are over. Campaigns are over. You now have to govern and govern the whole of Nigeria and every Nigerian,” he said.
He also cautioned against rewarding political cronies with high office appointments, stating that such practices would not move the country forward.
Onaiyekan concluded with a stern reminder for the President, stating that as the leader of the nation, Tinubu would have to answer to God for his actions.
“I would say, now that you (Tinubu) have been declared the President of Nigeria, sit down comfortably on that chair.
“As a religious leader, I would say God has allowed you on that chair. If God puts you there, you must then know that he is watching you and that He will be asking you what you did on that chair,” he said.