When a government begins to fear the truth, it is often a sign that it has begun to lose touch with the people it governs. Nations do not decline overnight; they decline gradually when leaders stop listening, when criticism is treated as hostility, and when those who speak for the suffering are branded enemies of the state. It is in this spirit that I reflect on the disturbing atmosphere now surrounding public discourse in Nigeria.
Recently, former United States President Donald Trump reportedly described Nigeria as “a now disgraced country.” Whether one agrees with his choice of words or not, the statement has resonated because many Nigerians can see the painful reality around them. Rising poverty, persistent insecurity, unemployment, inflation, collapsing businesses, and growing despair have become the daily experience of millions. What should concern us most is not merely the criticism coming from abroad, but the apparent intolerance toward those at home who dare to speak honestly about these realities.
The Catholic Church has never functioned as an opposition political party in Nigeria. Across military regimes and democratic administrations alike, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria has maintained a principled and consistent voice on national issues. It has commended governments when they acted rightly and criticised them when national conscience demanded it. Its interventions are rooted in Christian social teaching, which places truth, justice, human dignity, and the common good above political convenience.
The same can be said of other major religious bodies in Nigeria. Organisations such as the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Jama’atu Nasril Islam, and the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria have repeatedly raised concerns about insecurity, economic hardship, inflation, and the suffering of ordinary citizens. Religious leaders live among the people. They hear the cries of families who cannot afford food, witness young people trapped in unemployment, and encounter communities living in fear of kidnappers and violent attacks. Their moral duty compels them to speak.
A wise government should welcome such voices. Leadership is not diminished by criticism; it is strengthened by honest counsel. During my time as Governor of Anambra State, I worked closely with a strong Council of Traditional Rulers led by the Obi of Onitsha, as well as religious leaders who frequently criticised my administration and offered suggestions. Their candour contributed significantly to our achievements, particularly in education and healthcare. No leader sees everything. Those who govern well are often those who listen well.
It is therefore deeply troubling that the recent intervention of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference has been met with hostility, especially the attacks directed at His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan. This reaction is not only unnecessary; it is harmful to our democratic culture. Cardinal Onaiyekan is one of Africa’s most respected churchmen, a scholar, peace advocate, and statesman whose service to Nigeria spans decades. To reduce his intervention to partisan politics or to attack his person rather than engage his arguments weakens public discourse and sends a dangerous message that truth-telling will be punished.
Nigeria has a long history of religious leaders speaking truth to power. In 1998, when Pope John Paul II visited Nigeria and spoke frankly to General Sani Abacha about human rights and the detention of Chief Moshood Abiola, no one accused him of partisan interference. Successive governments, whether under Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan, or Buhari, were criticised by religious leaders at different times. Disagreements occurred, but the right of religious institutions to speak on matters affecting the nation was generally respected.
What has changed today? Why does the truth provoke such anger?
Part of the answer lies in the tendency of leaders to surround themselves with those who offer praise rather than honest assessment. History teaches us that this is a dangerous habit. Napoleon Bonaparte was reputed to have preferred hearing bad news because problems were where leadership was needed. During my tenure as governor, I expected commissioners and advisers to bring me difficulties, not compliments, because only honest feedback could lead to solutions.
Good governance depends on truth. When governments reward sycophancy and punish candour, honest advisers withdraw, flattery flourishes, and leaders become isolated from reality. The result is policy failure and public distrust. A nation cannot progress when its leaders hear only applause while its citizens cry in pain.
The bishops did not insult the President. They merely articulated what millions of Nigerians already know: insecurity has worsened, poverty is deepening, inflation is eroding livelihoods, and hope is fading. These concerns are not Catholic concerns; they are Nigerian concerns. Hunger does not ask whether one is Christian or Muslim. Kidnappers do not stop victims to inquire about their denomination. Unemployment does not discriminate by tribe. To portray these issues as a religious matter is to evade the substance of the criticism.
The proper response to such concerns should have been thoughtful engagement. Government could have explained the steps being taken, acknowledged the suffering of citizens, and invited continued dialogue. Instead, the public witnessed attempts to discredit respected voices. This approach does not strengthen government; it weakens its moral authority.
Democracy flourishes where citizens can speak without fear and where leaders can endure criticism without resentment. When respected national figures are vilified for expressing concern about the state of the nation, ordinary citizens learn that silence is safer than honesty. That is a dangerous lesson for any democracy.
Religious leaders must continue to speak. Silence in the face of suffering would be a betrayal of their vocation and of the people they serve. Equally, political leaders must recover the humility to listen. The greatest service that advisers around President Bola Tinubu can render him is not endless praise, but an honest appraisal of the condition of the country. A leader who hears only compliments will never fully understand the pain of his people, and without understanding, there can be no genuine solution.
Nigeria does not need a war against truth. It needs a renewal of truthfulness in governance, a restoration of honest dialogue, and a leadership willing to confront reality rather than attack those who describe it. Only then can we begin the difficult but necessary work of national recovery.
A New Nigeria is possible.
