The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), has thrown its weight behind Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, over his position on the state of the nation, saying that the clergy spoke the plain truth to power.
The Council in a statement on Tuesday signed by its national president, Comrade Isah Abubakar, urged religious scholars, clerics, and traditional leaders of all faiths, Muslim and Christian alike across Nigeria to emulate the Cardinal’s courage.
NYCN said, “We stand in firm, unequivocal solidarity with His Eminence, Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, following his interface with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu alongside the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
“As a respected elder statesman and moral voice, Cardinal Onaiyekan did nothing more than articulate the daily lived realities of millions of Nigerians battling severe economic hardship, inflation, and pervasive insecurity. Humanity and future generations will forever remain grateful to His Eminence for his dogged, unwavering resolve to speak truth to power, regardless of the discomfort it causes in the halls of leadership.”
While condemning the presidency for its reaction to the Cardinal’s comment, NYCN said, “We ask the Presidency and its aides, who have chosen to discredit the messenger rather than examine the message: What exactly did Cardinal Onaiyekan say that is not the present reality of our country? Attempts by presidential handlers to dismiss his courage as an “abuse of clerical privilege” reveal a concerning detachment from the struggles of the masses. Shielding the President from the truth through sycophancy and political flattery only deepens the nation’s crises.”
The leadership of the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria also appreciated Cardinal Onaiyekan for stepping into the gap as a true patriot. “Rather than seeking political favour or personal comfort, he chose to present the unfiltered condition of the nation directly to the Commander-in-Chief.
“We call on religious scholars, clerics, and traditional leaders of all faiths—Muslim and Christian alike across Nigeria—to emulate the Cardinal’s courage. Our faith leaders must prioritise the welfare of the people and the survival of the country over personal gain, access to power, or self-serving silence.
“Cardinal Onaiyekan spoke the collective mind of the Nigerian people, and we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him in defence of truth, justice, and good governance.”
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