by Passman Akpos
A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli, has called on presidential aides to immediately embark on damage control following the recent exchange between Presidential spokesperson Daniel Bwala and John Cardinal Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, warning that the controversy could strain relations between the Presidency and Nigeria’s Catholic community.
In a strongly worded statement released to mark Cardinal Onaiyekan’s 57th anniversary as a Catholic priest, Ikuli described the 82-year-old cleric as one of Africa’s most accomplished religious leaders, arguing that his decades of service to the Catholic Church and the global Christian community deserved respect regardless of political differences.
According to him, Cardinal Onaiyekan has served in several top leadership positions, including President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Co-President of the Nigeria Interreligious Council (NIREC), President of the Catholic Bishops Conferences of West Africa (RECOWA), President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), and other international religious bodies.
Ikuli also highlighted the Cardinal’s academic and ecclesiastical achievements, noting that he graduated with outstanding results from secondary school, declined a scholarship offered by the late Sir Ahmadu Bello to pursue the priesthood, obtained a doctorate in Rome, and later became one of Nigeria’s youngest Catholic bishops before eventually rising to the rank of Cardinal.
He further stated that Cardinal Onaiyekan participated in the conclaves that elected Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV, describing him as a globally respected scholar and churchman whose influence extends far beyond Nigeria and Africa.
The APC member argued that public officials should exercise restraint when responding to criticism from respected religious leaders, especially amid Nigeria’s economic and security challenges.
Ikuli maintained that political leaders must learn to manage dissent constructively instead of escalating disagreements through public exchanges, insisting that criticism from faith leaders should not be interpreted as political hostility.
He also warned that the Catholic Church remains a significant force in Nigeria’s social and political landscape, adding that the country’s millions of Catholic faithful cannot be ignored as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
Calling for reconciliation, Ikuli urged Daniel Bwala and other presidential aides to tender an unreserved apology to the Catholic Church, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), and Cardinal Onaiyekan.
“Apology is never a sign of weakness; rather, it demonstrates maturity and a high sense of responsibility,” he said, adding that such a move would help heal divisions and prevent individuals from exploiting the controversy for political gain.
The appeal follows recent remarks by Daniel Bwala criticizing Cardinal Onaiyekan over the cleric’s comments on Nigeria’s economy, insecurity and governance after a meeting between the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria and President Bola Tinubu.
In his response on social media, Bwala argued that the Cardinal spoke on behalf of the Catholic Church rather than all Christians, contending that the President was entitled to disagree with the bishops’ assessment of the country’s situation based on what he described as available facts and statistics. He also maintained that religious organizations should remain politically neutral.
The exchange has continued to generate debate over the relationship between religious leaders and political office holders, with supporters on both sides defending their positions.
