The Presidency has accused former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, of breaching the confidentiality of a private meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
The allegation follows Cardinal Onaiyekan’s recent interview on ARISE News, during which he spoke about discussions held during the closed-door engagement with the President.
According to the Presidency, the meeting was intended to remain confidential, with participants expected to respect the private nature of the discussions. It argued that publicly disclosing details from the engagement undermined the trust upon which such high-level consultations are conducted.
The Presidency maintained that private meetings between the President and religious leaders are designed to encourage frank and open dialogue on issues affecting the country, stressing that confidentiality is essential to preserving mutual trust and ensuring productive engagements.
Cardinal Onaiyekan’s remarks during the television interview have since sparked public debate, with differing opinions emerging over whether participants in such meetings should disclose discussions held behind closed doors.
Neither Cardinal Onaiyekan nor the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria had issued a formal response to the Presidency’s position at the time of filing this report.
