John Onaiyekan, former Archbishop of Abuja, has revealed that Christian leaders and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed differing views on Nigeria’s economy during a recent meeting.
Speaking on Arise Television on Saturday, August 1, 2026, Onaiyekan said the delegation used the meeting to convey its concerns about the economic hardship facing many Nigerians. According to him, the church leaders argued that the economy was worsening the living conditions of low-income citizens, while President Tinubu maintained that the economy was performing well.
“When the country is suffering, you cannot expect a friendly meeting with the president. We have to make him aware. His response was that the country is not suffering. We informed him that our economy is not favorable to our poor population. He insisted that the economy is in good shape. In essence, he made it clear that he did not agree with us,” Onaiyekan said.
He added that the delegation was not surprised by the president’s position, stressing that its responsibility was to present the church’s concerns directly to the nation’s leader, regardless of whether there was agreement on the issues raised.
