Why Nigeria’s Catholic Bishops Have Always Spoken Truth to Power

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria has defended its right to speak on insecurity, hunger, corruption, elections and governance following its recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu. The bishops said they conveyed the hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians, while the President argued that his reforms were beginning to deliver results. Critics have accused the bishops of partisanship and sympathy for opposition politics. However, the CBCN’s record shows a long-running pattern of challenging governments across party lines. It criticised military rule, raised concerns under the Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan and Buhari administrations, and repeatedly called for justice, security, accountable leadership and credible elections. The bishops’ interventions are rooted in Catholic social teaching on human dignity, the common good, solidarity and concern for the poor. The central question is whether Nigerians can defend the right of independent religious institutions to hold every government accountable, including the governments they support.

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