₦airaland Forum

ABUJA — The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has declared its support for the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, and the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), following criticism of the cleric over comments on the country’s economic and security challenges.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Spokesman, Luka Binniyat, the socio-cultural organisation described the criticism of Cardinal Onaiyekan by some presidential aides as “unfair, unnecessary and completely misplaced.”

The forum urged the Federal Government to reflect on the observations made by the Catholic bishops rather than dismissing them.

Cardinal Onaiyekan had, after a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and members of the CBCN, said the President appeared not to be receiving accurate information about the conditions facing ordinary Nigerians.

Responding, the MBF said the Cardinal spoke in the public interest and reflected the experiences of many Nigerians.

“The Middle Belt Forum expresses its total solidarity with His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, on his position regarding poverty and hardship in Nigeria,” the statement said.

According to the group, the Cardinal’s remarks should not be viewed through a political lens but as contributions to national discourse by a respected religious leader.

The MBF also called on President Tinubu to undertake an independent assessment of the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians, particularly victims of terrorism and violent attacks.

It urged the President to engage directly with displaced persons, farmers, widows, market women, unemployed youths and community leaders to gain firsthand insight into the challenges they face.


The forum said communities in the Middle Belt had endured years of insecurity, with many residents displaced by violent attacks, leading to the destruction of homes, farmlands and livelihoods.

While acknowledging the efforts and sacrifices of the military and other security agencies, the MBF maintained that insecurity continues to affect farming, business activities and the daily lives of millions of Nigerians.

On the economy, the forum argued that although the national minimum wage had increased, rising inflation and the depreciation of the naira had reduced workers’ purchasing power, making it more difficult for many households to meet basic needs.

It also cited increases in the cost of fuel, food, transportation, electricity, cooking gas, healthcare and education as factors contributing to the hardship experienced by many Nigerians.

The MBF urged the President to welcome constructive criticism and engage with differing views as part of efforts to address the country’s challenges.

It reiterated its support for the CBCN and Cardinal Onaiyekan, saying discussions on poverty, insecurity and the welfare of citizens are legitimate contributions to national development.

Source:
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/08/mbf-backs-onaiyekan-cbcn-urges-tinubu-to-heed-concerns-on-hardship/

"Catholic Bishops are not Christians" - Presidency

The drug criminal must go for Nigeria to breathe fresh air.

Nigeria can never be ok with a corrupt and fraudulent person like Tinubu.

Only insane persons like most APC members will counter Onaiyekan

Tinubu and his urchins have consistently shown disrespect to the Christian community. Onother thread they created a fake Catholic Association without knowing their own acronym. Instead of CYAN they copied CYON

Bunch of olodos.

E get any sane person were no know say things hard

Truth is one and can't be two except you are a member of APC

Peter obi and his supporters nightmare

This is the kind of back-and-forth that the government actually enjoys.. it gives them the diversionary distraction to continue their evíl ways..🤔🤔

Catholic Youths have issued their own
Northern Christain Professionals have..

Wait for that of CAN
Then PFN
Then NANS
Then NYCF
Then CSOs..

Each taking a side while the highlighted problems remain..

It's the kind of divide-and-rule they enjoy..

No one said everything was rosy, did they? What we've said is that for a cardinal, Onaiyekan is biased, partisan and speaking things he has no proof of.
Mr President is not in charge of handing catholic schools back to them. There's no proof that INEC is controlled by the president and that's not constructive criticism but baseless accusations. Mr President cannot be bent on losing but bent on winning. If Onaiyekan's church member is bent on losing, that's his cup of tea. As for economics, leave that one for seasoned economists to say. We've heard from folks like Soludo, Sanusi, Okonjo-Iweala and others that understand economics. They are saying the same thing that the president has said.

Yet to see an inconsiderate and unaccountable government as this one.

All they care is politics and looting

The problem is not tinubu but the likes of Bwalya.

We need reasonable people to speak truth to power. This hardship is too much, and the worst thing is that Tinubu has a contrary view of the economy. I don't know who's feeding him with those lies. Muslim clerics should visit him too and tell him the true situation of things, he's surrounded by sycophants.

Anybody still supporting Tinubu is worst than the devil. He's obviously an enemy of Nigerian masses.

If only we had a good opposition
Sadly no one is really challenging Tinubu.
This would be a Walk over elections for opposition.
Obi =zero
Atiku= zero

Heffalump:
Anybody still supporting Tinubu is worst than the devil. He's obviously an enemy of Nigerian masses.

That's what losers say when giving up. Ask all the big businesses and hardworking companies about their account balance.
See how hardworking people are buying cars, doing ceremonies, building houses and spending money. Sit down under mummy's bed and be typing pain there. Na masses like you dey hustle make am for Lagos. One corper wey dey complain like dead person last year, don buy car this year. Na so all your pastors dey build largest auditorium and master city like water.

The Tinubu group ended up making a bad situation worse for themselves. Onaiyekan isn't at the same level as Kukah. Kukah has always been seen dancing with politicians since 1999. Conversely,Onaiyekan has been more taciturn and always minded his ministry and calling. For the presidency to have flung decorum to the gutter and descended on the personality of Onaiyekan shows that it failed to anticipate the blowback. Perhaps they considered every violet adorned Cleric would play ball like Kukah.

The monikers

Chopnaira
Ibrahimcoomasie
Slytiger


belong to the same person that is an APC supporter, whose fake news always hits frontpage as factual news and statements.


Imagine forging an organizations letterhead to push propaganda. Thank God a vigilant moderator did the needful and deleted the rubbish from nairaland servers.

Chopnaira
Slytiger
Ibrahimcoomasie


Shame on you.


THE ATTACHED DOCUMENT IS FAKE NEWS!

Macphenson:
Tinubu and his urchins have consistently shown disrespect to the Christian community. Onother thread they created a fake Catholic Association without knowing their own acronym. Instead of CYAN they copied CYON

Bunch of olodos.

Middle Belt forum are member of Obidient movement or even Kwankwasiya.

It's game over for the cocaine-smooking druqqie

Kelklein:
This is the kind of back-and-forth that the government actually enjoys.. it gives them the diversionary distraction to continue their evíl ways..🤔🤔

Catholic Youths have issued their own
Northern Christain Professionals have..

Wait for that of CAN
Then PFN
Then NANS
Then NYCF
Then CSOs..

Each taking a side while the highlighted problems remain..

It's the kind of divide-and-rule they enjoy..

If you believe that Catholic Youths wrote that trashy letter, then you're gullible. The only recognised Catholic Youths body in Nigeria is CYON and not CYAN as faked by Tinubu data boys. When did Catholic Youths Organisation of Nigeria turned to Catholic Youths Association of Nigeria?

Image123:
No one said everything was rosy, did they? What we've said is that for a cardinal, Onaiyekan is biased, partisan and speaking things he has no proof of.
Mr President is not in charge of handing catholic schools back to them. There's no proof that INEC is controlled by the president and that's not constructive criticism but baseless accusations. Mr President cannot be bent on losing but bent on winning. If Onaiyekan's church member is bent on losing, that's his cup of tea. As for economics, leave that one for seasoned economists to say. We've heard from folks like Soludo, Sanusi, Okonjo-Iweala and others that understand economics. They are saying the same thing that the president has said.

Tell that to kids or APC hungry propagandists. Nigerians are wiser.

AderonkeOlaniyi:
Tell that to kids or APC hungry propagandists. Nigerians are wiser.

Congo people will show you who is who in January. Just wait. Se you say you must be dull ni.

The man didn't lie. The hunger and pain is too much on people.

The man didn't lie. The hunger and pain is too much on people.
That's what I expect from clergy men

Tinlumbu is an OTP president.
On his way out.

Obi has captured SE, SS, NC& NW.
Everywhere will be blur

Image123:
Congo people will show you who is who in January. Just wait. Se you say you must be dull ni.

What you typed is totally meaningless. Shame! Anyway, I'm not surprised. The photo below says it all.

Image123:
No one said everything was rosy, did they? What we've said is that for a cardinal, Onaiyekan is biased, partisan and speaking things he has no proof of.
Mr President is not in charge of handing catholic schools back to them. There's no proof that INEC is controlled by the president and that's not constructive criticism but baseless accusations. Mr President cannot be bent on losing but bent on winning. If Onaiyekan's church member is bent on losing, that's his cup of tea. As for economics, leave that one for seasoned economists to say. We've heard from folks like Soludo, Sanusi, Okonjo-Iweala and others that understand economics. They are saying the same thing that the president has said.

But your pay master said inec us natural what does that mean? Please answer
So that word alone has sold him out, to crown it all he said all is fair in politics, so killing that is current going on is fair because of politics right.
Answer too

why are people surprised.

Crown a clown and get a circus.

Tinubu is a drug dealer, he knows nothing about ruling.

The whole country is suffering