Presidency Slams Onaiyekan for “Abuse of Clerical Privilege” Over Tinubu Meeting

The Presidency has strongly criticized Cardinal John Onaiyekan for publicly disclosing details of a private meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN). The government described his television interview as “an abuse of clerical privilege” and accused him of acting as a “proxy for opposition political elements.”

The Presidency has launched a scathing attack on Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, over his public comments regarding the recent closed-door meeting between President Bola Tinubu and members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN). The government described his account as inappropriate and a breach of the confidence expected from such high-level engagements.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, said Onaiyekan’s decision to discuss the private meeting during an interview on ARISE NEWS amounted to an abuse of clerical privilege. “There is something fundamentally inappropriate about Cardinal John Onaiyekan granting a television interview to offer his own account and interpretation of what transpired during the private meeting between the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria and President Bola Tinubu. It is, in my view, an abuse of clerical privilege,” Ajayi said. The reaction followed Onaiyekan’s interview in which he claimed that people around President Tinubu were giving him a “rosy picture” of the country and that the bishops felt obliged to present the President with the realities facing Nigerians. According to the cardinal, the bishops raised concerns about worsening economic hardship, insecurity, and the state of democracy, but the President disagreed with their conclusions.

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Ajayi said the bishops were freely allowed to present their concerns on security, the economy, education, democracy, and other national issues, adding that President Tinubu listened patiently before responding to every issue raised. According to him, disagreement with the bishops’ assessment did not amount to dismissing their concerns. “The bishops were notably acerbic in their submission, but the President listened to them patiently and responded,” Ajayi stated. The presidential spokesman said Tinubu challenged what he considered an incomplete assessment of the country’s situation, arguing that while Nigeria still faces significant economic and security challenges, measurable progress has been made. “The President argued that the bishops’ characterisation of the country’s current condition was incomplete and, in several respects, inaccurate. He pointed to measurable progress on the economic, social, and security fronts,” Ajayi said. Ajayi said the President acknowledged that many Nigerians were still experiencing hardship but insisted that his administration had pulled the country away from a fiscal crisis and laid the foundation for recovery. The statement also highlighted improvements in state finances, including more regular payment of salaries and pensions, as evidence that government reforms were yielding results. On the issue of schools, Ajayi said the President explained that ownership of schools was a matter within the jurisdiction of state governments under the Constitution, urging the bishops to engage governors on the matter. He added that Tinubu reminded the delegation that he returned mission schools in Lagos State while he was governor of the state.

On security, the Presidency rejected the suggestion that Tinubu was detached from the realities on the ground, saying the President has access to intelligence unavailable to the general public. “As Commander-in-Chief, he receives operational briefings, intelligence assessments, and battlefield reports unavailable to the general public,” Ajayi said. Ajayi also dismissed Onaiyekan’s suggestion that those around the President were shielding him from the truth, insisting Tinubu has multiple independent channels through which he receives information about the country. “What truth does anyone really need to tell President Tinubu that he does not already know? As President, he has multiple channels for feeling the pulse of the country,” he said. According to the statement, the President reads an average of ten newspapers daily, monitors television discussions, receives security and economic briefings, and maintains contacts across different sectors of society.

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In a further criticism on Sunday, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, issued a fresh statement entitled “When the Cassock Abandons the Pulpit: The Bishops’ Partisan Mirage and Opposition Echoes,” accusing Onaiyekan of acting “as a proxy for opposition political elements.” Dare alleged that the Archbishop acted in bad faith by appearing on television to discuss what transpired during the meeting. In a separate statement, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, accused Onaiyekan of allowing politics to influence his comments, alleging that the Catholic Church had openly supported the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, during the 2023 general election.

However, the CBCN has backed Onaiyekan, with its President and Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Rev. Matthew Man-oso Ndagoso, saying his comments reflected the position of the Church. “Cardinal Onaiyekan did not deviate from the message of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, which I am leading. The text of my message is there at the CBCN Secretariat for anyone to see,” Ndagoso said. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also condemned the Presidency’s attack on the Catholic Church and Onaiyekan, describing it as yet another demonstration of the Tinubu administration’s growing intolerance of dissent. Atiku insisted that Catholic bishops are “shepherds with a moral obligation to speak truth to power” and demanded an apology to Cardinal Onaiyekan and the Catholic faithful. The Northern Christian Association (NCA) said the presidential aides’ attack was capable of creating division within the Christian community, insisting that the Catholic Bishops spoke on issues affecting all Nigerians. The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) also defended Onaiyekan, saying he acted in the public interest by speaking on issues affecting Nigerians.

Presidency Slams Onaiyekan for “Abuse of Clerical Privilege” Over Tinubu Meeting

DSS, Vigilantes Ambush, Kill Notorious Bandit Kingpin Idi Abasu Aiki, Over 60 Fighters in Katsina

In a major victory against banditry in Nigeria’s North-West, the Department of State Services (DSS) and community vigilantes have eliminated wanted kingpin Idi Abasu Aiki and more than 60 of his fighters in a well-coordinated operation in Bakori Local Government Area, Katsina State.

The Department of State Services (DSS), supported by members of the Katsina State Community Vigilantes and specially trained hunters, has dealt a devastating blow to banditry in Nigeria’s North-West region, reportedly killing more than 60 suspected bandits, including the notorious kingpin Idi Abasu Aiki, during a coordinated security operation in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State. The operation, which unfolded over the past few days, marks one of the most significant successes against banditry in recent months and represents a major setback for criminal networks operating across Katsina and Zamfara states.

Security sources revealed that the operation was launched following credible intelligence indicating that a large group of heavily armed bandits, numbering more than 200, was mobilising for an attack on local communities. The group, led by the wanted kingpin Idi Abasu Aiki and reinforced by fighters from the Ado Aleru gang in neighbouring Zamfara State, stormed Guga village in Bakori LGA with the intention of attacking communities they believed had been supporting local security outfits protecting surrounding villages. The planned assault was believed to be a reprisal for heavy losses the bandits had suffered earlier in the month during a confrontation with local hunters at Dawan Laila village, also in Bakori LGA. The attackers intended to dismantle the community’s defence structure before extending their offensive to neighbouring settlements. However, unknown to the bandits, the DSS had developed water-tight intelligence plans and had prepositioned operatives and supporting vigilantes to intercept the attackers. One source explained, “The over 200 armed bandits literally walked into a trap. Over 60 of them, including Idi Abasu Aiki and 14 of their top commanders, didn’t come out of that trap alive.”

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While the operation was a major success in neutralising a significant threat, it came at a cost. Four members of the Katsina State Community Vigilantes and the local hunters who supported the DSS lost their lives during the exchange of gunfire. Their sacrifice has been acknowledged by security sources who described them as heroes in the fight against banditry. Following the confrontation, security personnel carried out extensive clearance operations in the area to recover weapons, ammunition, and other items abandoned by the fleeing bandits. The exact number of casualties on the bandits’ side could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report, but sources insist that over 60 fighters were eliminated.

Idi Abasu Aiki was a notorious bandit leader believed to be responsible for orchestrating numerous attacks across Katsina and Zamfara states. He had been on the wanted list of security agencies for years and was known for his ruthlessness and ability to coordinate large-scale attacks on vulnerable communities. The success of this operation comes after earlier military efforts in the region, which had reportedly targeted his network and family members. Previous reports indicated that troops had killed his younger brother, Anaruwa, who was also identified as a bandit kingpin, in a separate operation in Zamfara State. The elimination of Aiki represents a significant victory in ongoing efforts to dismantle banditry networks in the North-West.

The successful operation in Bakori LGA sends a strong message to bandits operating in the North-West that security forces are capable of gathering intelligence and mounting effective responses to threats. It also highlights the critical role played by community vigilantes and local hunters in complementing the efforts of formal security agencies. Authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the operation as of the time of filing this report. However, security sources indicate that operations are ongoing to track down fleeing bandits and prevent any further attacks on communities in the area.

DSS, Vigilantes Ambush, Kill Notorious Bandit Kingpin Idi Abasu Aiki, Over 60 Fighters in Katsina

MURIC Hails Oloyede as ‘Game Changer,’ Says He Proved Muslims Can Excel in Public Office

A civil society organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has described the immediate past Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, as a “game changer” and a “moral compass,” asserting that his ten-year tenure has debunked the myth of Muslim incompetence in public office.

In a press release issued on Monday, MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, declared that Oloyede’s performance at the helm of JAMB stands as a living proof of Muslim resilience, idealism, and intellectualism in Nigeria. The statement comes as Professor Oloyede concluded his national assignment on Friday, 31st July, 2026, after a decade of service.

Professor Akintola argued that Oloyede’s success has dismantled a long-standing narrative used to justify the marginalisation of Muslims, particularly in the southern part of the country.

“Oloyede broke the myth of the nonavailability or scarcity of qualified Muslims for public offices, an excuse used by those who deliberately marginalise Muslims, particularly in the southern part of Nigeria,” the statement read in part .

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Without saying so directly, the rights group stated that the former JAMB boss effectively “debunked the misconception that Muslims are uneducated, unskilled and incompetent.” Professor Akintola further noted that Oloyede has proved wrong those who habitually pick only Christians for public and professional appointments, even in areas where Muslims constitute the majority.

The group lauded the former Registrar’s track record, referencing his previous role as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, where he was also credited with pioneering reforms that expanded access to education .

“Today, due to the high level performance of Professor Ishaq Oloyede both at the University of Ilorin where he was a former vice chancellor and later at JAMB, Nigerian Muslims can beat their chests,” the statement added.

MURIC further asserted that JAMB would never be the same again following Oloyede’s tenure, which was marked by groundbreaking reforms, enhanced transparency, and accountability in the admission process .

The organisation concluded by congratulating the scholar and wishing him a life filled with bliss in his post-JAMB experience.

MURIC Hails Oloyede as ‘Game Changer,’ Says He Proved Muslims Can Excel in Public Office