The Northern Christian Association (NCA) has expressed strong support for the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria over their recent engagement with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Daniel Bwala, of attempting to create division within the Christian community.
The association said the Catholic bishops spoke not only on issues affecting the Catholic Church but also on matters concerning Christians and Nigerians generally, insisting that their intervention was motivated by concern for the nation and should be understood as being in the public interest.
The NCA’s position comes amid controversy surrounding comments attributed to Bwala after the leadership of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) met with President Tinubu and raised concerns about economic hardship, insecurity, governance and the future of democratic institutions in the country.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Chairman of the Northern Christian Association, Rev. Joseph Hayab, warned against what he described as divisive politics and vowed that the association would resist any attempt to set one Christian denomination against another.
According to him, the NCA is a broad-based Christian body comprising members from virtually all major denominations across Northern Nigeria, including Catholics, Baptists, ECWA, Methodists, Anglicans and Pentecostal churches.
“We should tell Bwala to know that Catholics are Christians and Nigerians,” Hayab said.
“Our members are Catholics, Baptists, ECWA, Methodists, Anglicans, Pentecostals and people of all denominations. We refuse to be divided by Bwala’s politics of division.”
The cleric stressed that the Catholic bishops did not visit the President to discuss sectarian matters but to present concerns affecting the country as a whole.
He said the bishops spoke on issues of national importance, including insecurity, poverty, economic hardship and the welfare of citizens.
“Our Cardinal is our respected leader, and the bishops that visited the President went to speak to him about humanity, Christians and all of us, not only Catholics,” he stated.
Hayab also defended Cardinal John Onaiyekan, describing him as a respected national figure whose contributions to peace, justice and democratic development have earned him admiration across denominational and regional lines.
He argued that attacking such a figure for expressing concerns about national conditions was inappropriate and unhelpful.
“It is therefore shameful and a disservice to President Tinubu for his spokesperson to disrespect our Cardinal,” Hayab said.
“An honest counsel has been given to Mr President for his own good and for a better Nigeria.”
The NCA chairman further criticised what he described as a growing tendency among some government officials to dismiss legitimate concerns raised by religious leaders, civil society groups and other stakeholders.
According to him, public officials who respond to criticism with propaganda rather than addressing the underlying problems facing Nigerians are doing greater damage to the country.
“Any voice of greed, propaganda or disconnect with the citizens by any government appointee like Bwala should be seen as those destroying the country for their selfish interest, not minding the larger population,” he said.
Hayab warned that Nigeria’s mounting economic and security challenges would ultimately affect all citizens, irrespective of political affiliation, religion or social status.
“Sadly for people like Bwala, if things do not improve, we shall all suffer together and live to see our country not growing as it should be,” he said.
Reaffirming the association’s confidence in the Catholic bishops, Hayab described them as patriotic leaders who genuinely desire the progress and stability of Nigeria.
“The NCA knows that our Catholic bishops mean well and love the President and the country more than those insulting their honest counsel,” he added.
He urged political office holders and presidential aides to engage constructively with the concerns raised by religious leaders rather than making statements capable of deepening divisions among Nigerians.
According to him, criticism offered in good faith should be welcomed as an opportunity for reflection and improvement, especially in a democratic society.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, during its recent meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, reportedly urged the Federal Government to take more decisive measures to address worsening insecurity, economic hardship, poverty and other pressing national challenges.
The bishops also emphasised the need to strengthen democratic institutions and ensure credible electoral processes ahead of future elections.
Their remarks generated widespread public debate, with reactions emerging from political actors, civil society organisations and religious groups across the country.
Bwala’s reported response to the bishops attracted criticism from several Christian organisations, including the Northern Christian Association, which now insists that the comments should not be allowed to create tension within the Christian community.
The NCA concluded by calling for greater national unity, mutual respect and constructive dialogue among government officials, religious leaders and citizens, stressing that Nigeria’s current challenges require cooperation rather than division.
