Former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has called on President Bola Tinubu and his aides to stop what he described as attacks on the Catholic Church and the Christian faith over recent comments by John Cardinal Onaiyekan.
Amaechi made the call on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, saying he suspended his mourning for his late mother to speak out against what he considered disrespectful comments by officials of the Presidency towards the Catholic Church.
“I came here simply to say, please ask the President to stop insulting the Catholic Church, to stop insulting Christians. They should respect God and respect the Christian faith. They should stop insulting Christians,” Amaechi said.
The former minister insisted that his intervention was not politically motivated, stressing that he was concerned about what he described as repeated attacks on Christian leaders.
“I’m not here to discuss politics. What I’m going to discuss is that they should leave the Catholic Church alone. They should respect God and respect the Christian faith,” he said.
Amaechi said he respected both Christianity and Islam, but warned political leaders against making statements that could deepen religious divisions in the country.
He said criticism directed at Cardinal Onaiyekan amounted to an attack on the Christian faith.
“I don’t believe in religious differences. If you come to my house and you’re a Muslim, there is a place for Muslims to worship. If you’re a Christian, there is a chapel for Christians to worship. I believe in that, but not to insult my God,” he said.
Amaechi questioned whether similar remarks would have been made against the Sultan if he had confronted the President over an issue.
“If the Sultan had confronted the President, would they have insulted him? We’ve been insulted because we are Christians,” he said.
The former Rivers governor also defended the Catholic hierarchy, describing Catholic bishops as accomplished scholars who deserved to be treated with respect.
“You can’t be a Catholic priest without studying. You can’t become a bishop without proper qualifications. They should respect our bishops,” he said.
Asked whether he expected President Tinubu or the Presidency to apologise, Amaechi said the decision rested with the Catholic bishops.
“That is their business. If the bishops demand that, fine. But that is their business,” he said.
He also cautioned politicians against exploiting religion for political purposes, warning that such actions could heighten tensions in a religiously diverse country.
The controversy followed recent exchanges between the Presidency and Cardinal Onaiyekan after the cleric recounted a meeting with President Tinubu during which he said he raised concerns about Nigeria’s worsening economic hardship and insecurity.
Presidential aides subsequently challenged aspects of the Cardinal’s account, prompting criticism from some Christian groups and individuals who viewed the responses as disrespectful to Onaiyekan and the Catholic Church.
Amaechi urged the Presidency to refrain from further attacks on the Church, maintaining that disagreements with religious leaders should not degenerate into insults against Christianity.
“I think they have no respect for the Catholic Church. I think they have no respect for the Christian faith,” he said.
Amaechi, who is the African Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 election, added, “When it’s time for politics, we’re ready to abuse anybody and descend as low as they want.”
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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