ARISE News analyst Dayo Sobowale has defended President Bola Tinubu’s response to criticism by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), saying both the clergy and the presidency are entitled to express opposing views in a democratic setting.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Monday, Sobowale said the bishops exercised their right to raise concerns about the state of the nation directly with the president, while Tinubu was equally entitled to reject their assessment.
“The Catholic Bishops went to lay the case of the poor masses of this country before the president… and the president has the right of response.”
Sobowale dismissed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s demand for an apology to Cardinal John Onaiyekan, arguing that the exchange should be viewed within the broader context of political engagement between the opposition and the government.
“It is Atiku’s right to make merry with every embarrassment or every problem that this president has. It’s a political situation.”
He stated that the meeting between the bishops and the president moved beyond a purely religious engagement into the political arena, making a response from the presidency inevitable.
“They’ve gone political… and this president said something like, all is fair in politics.”
Responding to concerns that the presidency’s reaction reflected insensitivity towards the Christian community, Sobowale maintained that Tinubu had every right to defend his administration against criticism.
“He has every right to defend his policy.”
Sobowale also rejected suggestions that the president was wrong to insist that poverty predated his administration, saying Tinubu was entitled to disagree with the bishops’ assessment of his performance.
“Poverty was there all along… He did not buy the argument that he’s not performing.”
He described the public disagreement as a reflection of democratic principles, insisting that criticism of government should naturally attract a response.
“Right of dissent. Right of response to dissent.”
Sobowale concluded that while the language used by some presidential spokespersons could be debated, the exchange itself demonstrated the functioning of democracy rather than an attack on religious freedom.
“If you tell someone they’re not doing well, just expect them to respond.”
Ojo Triumph
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