NewStats: 3,262,346 , 8,176,890 topics. Date: Sunday, 01 June 2025 at 09:49 PM 3926t

John Onaiyekan, a cardinal and former Catholic archbishop of Abuja, says President Bola Tinubu’s re-election prospects in a free and fair election would be jeopardised if he continues with his current policies.

Onaiyekan spoke in Abuja on Wednesday during an interview with journalists after participating in the communication week public lecture organised by the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN).

The cardinal pointed out the disconnect between the government and the people, stressing the need for the president to understand the everyday struggles of the ordinary Nigerians.

“My advice for Mr. President is to find ways and means of finding out what Nigeria is actually going through,” Onaiyekan said.

“Not those around him who are always praising him to the skies. They should find out. It is the job of every leader now.

“I’m not telling him to go and live in Mpape for two days, which would not be a bad idea. But he should be able to know how the people in Mpape are surviving. He should also know how families are managing with N30,000 salary a day.

“Since it is the people that he should serve, he should do more to raise the level of well-being of Nigerians.

“I don’t think we are unfair to the government if we say that in the last two years, our level of well-being has crashed considerably. The government may say it’s not their fault.

“They may say they have done their best. But the government is there to make sure that that does not happen. The government is there to make sure that at least the level of well-being of Nigerians is maintained and, if possible, improved.

“And I think it is a good time. Two years is halfway through for him to at least try and do that.

“If he changes gear in that regard and takes policies that really target the poor people of Nigeria, they will him forever.

“But if he continues like this for the rest of his term, if we have a free and fair election, he will not win. Because how can the country bring him back if we are not feeling good?

“Obviously, if they are not waiting for us to vote and they already made up their mind, if we win, okay, we praise the nation; we will continue. Going down, going down.”

He said the president should govern the country well and make it liveable for the ordinary Nigerian.

“We are still 250 million of us here in this country. We are struggling, and we shall win, we shall win. So, I’m hoping that the people around Mr. President will give him that advice,” Onaiyekan said.

“The elections were over two years ago. He doesn’t have to worry again whether he won the election or not. The Supreme Court said he won, so we have agreed now.

“We have agreed that he won. This is what the Supreme Court said, we have nowhere else to go. Now he should just govern, make life as liveable as possible for Nigerians, deal with security everywhere, improve the economic level of our people, and fight corruption.

https://www.thecable.ng/tinubu-must-change-his-policies-he-wont-win-next-election-if-its-free-and-fair-says-onaiyekan/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwKkxX9jbGNrAqTFf2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEeu4XHCrb9oA1DdQx5iexB0-mN7nP_ot8cudxRFyogmcYu3jvqh9n9eVoGQFk_aem_p3YEeBBcl-u9hC7oyHV3qw

No he won't find way to fix what he plunged the whole nation into. He's interested in politics. I don't know if he actually knows what the people are really ing through, maybe he thinks it's a joke or maybe his political jobbers and cronies are deceiving him with lies that things are getting better.
Like this bishop said, if nothing is done to remedy the situation or change his policies, he's gone on a free and fair election. I know he's relying on rigging themselves in but things could change overnight

All he knows is politics, not governance. And his style of politics is the shady kind with lots of dirty, underhanded tactics, nothing inspirational. The Tinubu that was sold to Nigerians is not who he has turned out to be.

If the APC government plans to rig the 2027 election, they should jettison it and earnestly begin to work for the people. With the kind of anger brewing against him across the length and breadth of the nation, rigging would be resisted. His latest strategy is to scuttle all political parties so he can run unopposed but the people will find an alternative.

Sentiments would rent the air. I am yet to see which story the coalition/coercion will tell Nigerians that they would buy.

They have only be talking about taking power without talking about their plans. One is even saying he can fix the decades rot in Nigeria within 2 years, how? He never explained .

ThIs is why I love the Catholic Church. They tell it to you as it is. No hiding of the truth, no silence as can be seen in redeem, deeper life and winners church

If free and fair election is conducted in 2027, there is no way tinubu is winning that election but then again,there is no way tinubu is going to conduct free and fair election in 2027,it's not possible

I have already given up on that one. The man has never spoken of free and fair election since he was elected president by the INEC

Those who can't manage ordinary their political party shouldn't be dreaming of being a Nigeria president.

The top leaders of the coalition can't even say they are the one in charge of their party. That's an early sign of weak leadership . If you can't manage ordinary your party, how can you manage complicated Nigeria?

Free, fair and credible election in 2027 would add to president Tinubu's legacies. The projects would do the easy campaign

helinues:


Sentiments would rent the air. I am yet to see which story the coalition/coercion will tell Nigerians that they would buy.

They have only be talking about taking power without talking about their plans. One is even saying he can fix the decades rot in Nigeria within 2 years, how? He never explained .

What decades rot? Nigeria has seen more rot in 2 years than it saw in a decade while Tinubu and his elite political class continue to live extravagantly. Does he also need decades to fix the so-called decades rot?

AMINDA:


What decades rot? Nigeria has seen more rot in 2 years than it saw in a decade while Tinubu and his elite political class continue to live extravagantly. Does he also need decades to fix the so-called decades rot?

Our definition of words are different. So you could be right with your more rot in 2 years

The cardinal should not reduce the suffering of Nigerians to only those in 30k bracket
Even people earning modest income of 200k-400k are struggling in this regime
So many have had to adjust to survive either through driving less, eating less, moving houses or stuck other things one can do to survive harsh economic conditions
Those on 30k are no longer in the conversation

I agree.

After criticizing, offer solutions.

Many of those who enjoy criticizing lack the brainpower to offer solutions.

"My advice for Mr. President is to find ways and means of finding out what Nigeria is actually going through," Onaiyekan said.

Cardinal should propose solutions.

We had thought that the problem was fuel subsidy, dollar dual exchange rate, and lack of refineries.

The biggest problem with Nigeria is lack of ideas and synergy for national development.

There is a gang angling for power in 2027. They have no clue how to solve any problem. They can't even organize their opposition properly. They just want power. Some would argue that it is the system of government. We have practiced parliamentary system, military system and presidential system. We are also practicing theocratic system due to the influence of religious leaders.

Our problem is us. We only think of ourselves and our visibility.

Let's propose some solutions.

1. Mass transit is the first issue to be addressed. Let all states purchase mass transit buses for interstate transportation, and subsidize it. When people are able to move from one place to another at affordable rates, the pressure on their earnings would reduce.

2. Let each regional government pool resources and create a new regional grid and power generation. We have sola rup north, hydro in the middle belt, offshore wind and gas in the south, geothermal in the southwest, and so on. Harnessing resources will not only create employment but solve long-term problems. With electricity, industries would thrive.

3. Let each state address insecurity. Set up a reward system for those behind insecurity to be exposed by the locals. By the time you punish 60 people, insecurity would end. Also, vet every human being that enters your community. Use the locals to solve the problem. Employ them as local guards, train them and pay them. How come we have not heard about insecurity in Jigawa, Kebbi, Gombe, Nasarawa, what exactly are they doing differently?

4. Invest in agriculture. Invite international farmers and allow them to till your land and set up agro-processing zones. You'd create employment and feed your people.

5. Gather stakeholders and discuss with them to share ideas on development. Agree on a strategy and follow it. Once it is time for politics, play it. It is quite shameful that everyone is talking about 2027 as if the citizens don't matter.

6. Work, not because you want re-election as a reward, but because you want a better life for your people. Treat your citizens as of your own family. No parent wants his children to suffer.

They will ask him to be “constructive” in his criticisms. As if they were constructive when they lambasted other presidents when they were in opposition. (The one above already asked the cardinal to proffer solutions). Was the cardinal elected to become president? The man that is president said he has all Nigeria’s problems solutions and he’s been preparing for over 20 years.

A leader is supposed to listen to the plight of the people he governs and not some ministers and advisers you employed that will only as-slick you just to keep their jobs.

emkz:
I agree.

After criticizing, offer solutions.

Many of those who enjoy criticizing lack the brainpower to offer solutions.

We all know it won't be free, neither will it be fair ...

The PDP Bishop has spoken.

There has being nothing like Free and Fair Elections in Nigeria since 1960. The highest bidder always win.

He is a terrible president

Maxymilliano:


https://www.thecable.ng/tinubu-must-change-his-policies-he-wont-win-next-election-if-its-free-and-fair-says-onaiyekan/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwKkxX9jbGNrAqTFf2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEeu4XHCrb9oA1DdQx5iexB0-mN7nP_ot8cudxRFyogmcYu3jvqh9n9eVoGQFk_aem_p3YEeBBcl-u9hC7oyHV3qw

His slaves will surely vote for him

helinues:
Those who can't manage ordinary their political party shouldn't be dreaming of being a Nigeria president.

The top leaders of the coalition can't even say they are the one in charge of their party. That's an early sign of weak leadership . If you can't manage ordinary your party, how can you manage complicated Nigeria?

Free, fair and credible election in 2027 would add to president Tinubu's legacies. The projects would do the easy campaign

free and fair election?

Jostoman:
free and fair election?

Are you people in the opposition afraid of it?

President Tinubu want to add that to his records

AMINDA:
All he knows is politics, not governance. And his style of politics is the shady kind with lots of dirty, underhanded tactics, nothing inspirational. The Tinubu that was sold to Nigerians is not who he has turned out to be.

If the APC government plans to rig the 2027 election, they should jettison it and earnestly begin to work for the people. With the kind of anger brewing against him across the length and breadth of the nation, rigging would be resisted. His latest strategy is to scuttle all political parties so he can run unopposed but the people will find an alternative.

You’re talking 2027, when political elites are making moves and securing positions for 2031 and 2039.

The election will not be free nor fair, and there is nothing you all can do.

Unserious people, when Nyezom Wike wrote 1.4 million votes for Goatluck Jonathan as votes for Rivers State alone in 2015, where were you all? Now tell me, how did the votes reduced to about 500K as total votes for both Peter Obingo and Tinubu combined in 2023? This na go see wonders in 2027. All lazy youths wey wan sacrifice themselves for election in 2027, let them get ready, the security forces are ready for them after the politicians must have sent their own children abroad

You and your likes never wanted him after all. Even when he won, you hated him for winning despite your moral preaching. Their is nothing he will do that will make your type to be okay. Allow him run the country to the best of his abilities. He never solicited for your to win, and he did not tell you he will be seeking reelection either.
Cardinal, face the business of gospel and allow politicians that many of you lipsync for do their job.

helinues:


Are you people in the opposition afraid of it?

President Tinubu want to add that to his records

helinues:


Sentiments would rent the air. I am yet to see which story the coalition/coercion will tell Nigerians that they would buy.

They have only be talking about taking power without talking about their plans. One is even saying he can fix the decades rot in Nigeria within 2 years, how? He never explained .

mr man if a no body is place on the ballot with Tinubu with the type of poor policy and government we have encountered over the past two years your demigod would lose it position to that nobody! We are tired of his propaganda style of governance. He employs the likes of you and other bots on social network platforms to propagate lies and misinformation about his istration that has cause the common Nigeria nothing more but pain and suffering and misery. I won’t believe if I would be told bubari would be so soon. As a big failure
like buhari, Tinubu have somehow prove to us buhari was better. All you lot think about was next election how to pocket the little wealth left in Nigeria! Your demigod would be disgrace and sent packing if Nigeria political space is cleaned without corruption. He thinks he can rule unopposed!

Since when does our votes start counting? Que sera sera, what will be, will be!

It's never going to be free and fair.

May Tinubu Must Change His Policies He Won’t Win Next Election In 2027 favor me and my family

Fact!

He doesn’t need to change anything, INEC will just allocate the votes to him, case closed

Na removal of fuel subsidy cause wahala for tinubu

This govt so afraid of 2027 selection because they know they're not doing well

Make Yoruba speak to a Yoruba man before them go say some people are talking because the president is from a certain region. Mind you I am from South South.