Atiku condemns Tinubu over Catholic bishops attack

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Nigeria — African Democratic Congress, condemned the Nigerian Presidency's criticism of Cardinal John Onaiyekan and the Catholic Church. The dispute follows a July 28 meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria, where bishops raised concerns about the economy and governance. Cardinal Onaiyekan later spoke to the press, prompting a sharp response from the Presidency. Atiku accused the administration of intolerance, disrespect, and attempting to distort the bishops' message, and demanded an apology. He framed the bishops as moral voices speaking truth to power, contrasting them with 'fake bishops' allegedly used by the government. The controversy highlights tensions between the government and religious institutions over criticism of economic conditions.