Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has said Cardinal John Onaiyekan graduated as the top student in the old Northern Region after completing secondary school in 1962.
Odinkalu made the statement in a post shared on his official X account on Sunday, August 2, 2026, following criticism of comments Onaiyekan made about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a recent interview on Arise TV.
In the post, Odinkalu said Onaiyekan attended Mount St. Michael’s Secondary School in Benue State and graduated as the best-performing student across the old Northern Region.
Defending the Catholic cleric against his critics, Odinkalu wrote: “When John Cardinal Onaiyekan completed high school at Mount St. Michael’s Secondary School in Benue State in 1962, he graduated as the absolute best graduating student in all of the old Northern Region.”
Odinkalu’s remarks were aimed at defending Onaiyekan’s credentials and condemning those criticizing the cleric over his recent public comments.
