…says dialogue space is shrinking
The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s response to concerns raised by Catholic leaders during their recent visit to the Presidential Villa, saying the President needed prayers and deeper reflection on his leadership style.
Adebayo, while addressing journalists at the SDP National Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday said the meeting with the Catholic bishops presented an opportunity for the President to engage with respected national figures and receive counsel on the challenges facing the country.
He expressed surprise that the Catholic leaders left the meeting without calling for urgent national prayers over what he described as the state of affairs in Nigeria.
“What is surprising to me is how the Catholic bishops could meet with President Tinubu and listen to President Tinubu talk the way he talked, and they left the Villa without calling for emergency national prayer,” he said.
The SDP candidate said leaders of the Catholic Church, including Cardinal John Onaiyekan, should be respected because of their influence and international standing.
“Cardinal John Onaiyekan is one of Nigeria’s greatest exports. To have him intercede for Nigeria on many international issues will be better than responding to people who sit to work in the presidency,” he said.
Adebayo accused the government of narrowing the space for dialogue and urged religious leaders not to abandon the country or those in government.
“They need prayers, they need to be told the truth, and they should not be discouraged,” he said.
He also criticised what he described as a failure of leadership, arguing that governments around the world make mistakes but are judged by how they respond to problems.
“A failed government is one in which the explanation is worse than the problem,” Adebayo said.
According to him, the government’s handling of national challenges had created more confusion among Nigerians.
“Every day you wake up into one crisis or the other, and there’s no head, no tail in that government,” he added.
