Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has said the economic difficulties and security challenges facing Nigeria cannot be blamed entirely on President Bola Tinubu, arguing that politicians often give the President an inaccurate picture of the country’s situation.
Kalu made the remarks while reacting to the recent meeting between President Tinubu and members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
During the meeting, the bishops expressed concerns over the state of the economy, the worsening security situation and the country’s political climate.
Following the discussions, the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, revealed that the President disagreed with the bishops’ assessment, maintaining that his administration remained on the right path.
Commenting on the development, Kalu described the Catholic bishops as the moral conscience of the nation, noting that their observations were intended to advance the country’s interests.
“The Catholic bishops are the conscience of the country and, once they give advice, their advice is not for or against; it is simply for any sitting President to see things the way they should be,” he said.
The former governor of Abia State admitted that Nigerians were experiencing genuine hardships but insisted that the problems were not solely the responsibility of the current administration.
“The Catholic bishops are aware of the situation in the country. There are real difficulties in Nigeria, but they are not President Tinubu’s fault,” Kalu stated.
He also praised the engagement between the clerics and the President, saying it provided an opportunity for Tinubu to receive an honest assessment of the country’s condition.
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“The Catholic bishops’ visit to President Tinubu is a good one. I support it because they are telling him the way it is,” he added.
Kalu further alleged that many politicians deliberately shield the President from the realities confronting ordinary Nigerians.
“It promotes the President to work harder because the Catholic bishops are just telling him the way it is. 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 said.
The comments come amid growing public concern over inflation, insecurity and the rising cost of living across the country.