To me, the Catholic Bishops are the conscience of the country. And once they give advice, their advice is not for or against
By Mmesoma Onwuka
Former Governor of Abia State and Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has described the Catholic Bishops as “the conscience of the country,” urging President Bola Tinubu to give serious consideration to the concerns they raised about the state of the nation.
Kalu made the remarks in a video shared on his Facebook page while reacting to the recent meeting between President Tinubu and members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to the former governor, the bishops’ observations were not intended as an attack on the President but were constructive contributions aimed at helping the government improve its performance.
“To me, the Catholic Bishops are the conscience of the country. And once they give advice, their advice is not for or against. Their advice is just for any sitting president, any sitting leader, to see things the way it should be,” Kalu said.
The senator acknowledged the economic hardship currently facing many Nigerians but argued that the challenges should not be attributed solely to the Tinubu administration.
“There’s difficulty in Nigeria, there’s no doubt. And it’s not the fault of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he stated.
Kalu noted that while the administration had recorded progress in managing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, many citizens were yet to experience tangible improvements in their daily lives.
“We have been able to capture the macro economy, and the micro is what we are having problems with,” he said.
He stressed that the Catholic bishops have a responsibility to present an honest assessment of the country’s situation, unlike politicians who might be inclined to give the President a more favourable account.
“Even if we politicians are lying to him and say things are good everywhere, the Catholic bishops can never say that,” he added.
Kalu also clarified that Cardinal John Onaiyekan is not the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, urging members of the President’s team to carefully study the bishops’ observations and use them as a guide for improving governance and addressing the concerns of Nigerians.
He maintained that constructive engagement with respected national institutions such as the Catholic Bishops would strengthen governance and help the administration respond more effectively to the country’s socio-economic challenges.