Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has alleged that politicians often mislead President Bola Tinubu about the true state of the country, insisting that members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria gave the President an honest assessment during their recent meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Kalu made the remarks in a viral video while reacting to the bishops’ audience with Tinubu, where they raised concerns over the country’s economic hardship, insecurity and political atmosphere.
The former Abia State governor described the Catholic bishops as the conscience of the nation, saying they had no reason to distort the realities confronting Nigerians.
The Catholic bishops are the conscience of the country and once they give advice, their advice is not for or against; it’s just for any sitting President to see things the way it should be,” Kalu said.
While acknowledging that Nigerians are facing genuine economic and security challenges, Kalu argued that the country’s current situation should not be blamed solely on President Tinubu.
He, however, maintained that the meeting between the bishops and the President was necessary because it exposed Tinubu to an independent assessment of the country’s realities.
The Catholic bishops’ visit to President Tinubu is a good one. I support it because they are telling him the way it is,” he said.
Kalu further claimed that unlike politicians, the bishops would not conceal the country’s challenges from the President.
Even if politicians are lying to him that things are good everywhere, they can never say that. Even if we politicians can lie to him, the bishops will tell him the truth about the current reality of the country,” he added.
The bishops had met with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, where they expressed concerns over the state of the economy, worsening insecurity and the country’s political direction.
Following the meeting, the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, disclosed that the President disagreed with the bishops’ assessment, maintaining that his administration remained on the right path.
