A sociopolitical youth group, the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has condemned the presidency’s verbal assault on the Abuja Cardinal emeritus, John Onaiyekan, saying he spoke the truth and that any attack on his person is an attack on the conscience of Nigeria.

The youth group said in a statement by its President General, Comrade Goodluck Ibem, that it “received with profound disappointment and outrage the reckless attempt by the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Mr. Daniel Bwala, to diminish and politicize the patriotic intervention of His Eminence, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, following the meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria.”

COSEYL held that “Mr. Bwala’s assertion that Cardinal Onaiyekan was speaking only for Catholics and not for Christians or Nigerians is, in our view, an unfortunate attempt to divert attention from the substance of the Cardinal’s message.

“Rather than address the grave concerns he raised about the hardship, insecurity, hunger, unemployment, and declining living standards confronting millions of Nigerians, the presidential spokesman chose to attack the messenger. That approach does not answer the issues confronting the country.”

According to the Coalition, “Cardinal Onaiyekan spoke as a respected elder statesman, a moral voice, and a patriotic Nigerian. His comments reflected concerns that are shared across religious, ethnic, and political divides.

“The pain of Nigerians does not discriminate between Catholic, Protestant, Pentecostal, Muslim, or traditional believer. Hunger has no denomination. Poverty carries no religious identity. Insecurity does not ask for one’s church membership before striking.”

It notes that, “To reduce such a national intervention to partisan politics is both unfair and counterproductive. It is our position that Cardinal Onaiyekan expressed sentiments that resonate with many Nigerians who are yearning for responsive leadership, economic relief, and accountable governance.

“COSEYL rejects every attempt to intimidate, discredit, or silence respected religious leaders and patriotic citizens for speaking truth to power. Democracy flourishes when leaders listen to constructive criticism, not when critics are branded as political actors simply because they express uncomfortable truths.”

The statement further reads: “Religious leaders have historically played significant roles in promoting justice, peace, national unity, and good governance. They have every constitutional and moral right to speak on issues affecting the welfare of the people. No government official should seek to define the boundaries of their conscience or determine whose suffering deserves to be acknowledged.

“We therefore state unequivocally that any campaign of intimidation or personal attack against Cardinal John Onaiyekan for expressing his views will be seen by many Nigerians as an attack on the right of citizens to speak freely about the state of the nation. Such rhetoric risks discouraging honest national conversations at a time when Nigeria needs openness, humility, and solutions.

“We call on the Presidency and its spokespersons to engage with the issues raised by the Catholic Bishops instead of questioning their motives. Nigerians expect practical responses to inflation, insecurity, youth unemployment, collapsing purchasing power, and the rising cost of living—not exchanges over personalities.”

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