Cardinal Onaiyekan, Private Meetings and the Duty of Truthful Public Criticism

The debate is not whether Cardinal John Onaiyekan has the right to speak publicly. He does. The real issue is whether he represented a private meeting with the President fairly, separated his personal view from the bishops’ collective position, and used his clerical authority with sufficient care. A private meeting does not require a secrecy oath before participants owe one another discretion and good faith. The concern is not that the Cardinal criticised the government, but that his account reportedly reduced a complex discussion to the claim that the bishops stated the nation’s “true” condition while the President insisted that everything was fine. The President may acknowledge hardship while pointing to fiscal, security and economic indicators he believes show progress. The bishops may present the pain they see among Nigerians. Both perspectives can be aired without treating one side as the sole owner of truth. Religious leaders have a duty to speak against injustice, but moral authority also demands precision, balance and accountability. The cassock does not remove a cleric’s right to participate in public debate, nor should it shield any public intervention from criticism.

Use The App To Win ₦1m

Stories are shared by community members. This article does not represent the official view of NaijaWorld — the author is solely responsible for its content.