A Catholic priest and former Executive Secretary of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Monsignor Obiora Ike, has urged President Bola Tinubu to remove advisers he accused of shielding him from the realities confronting Nigerians, warning that misleading counsel could worsen the country's challenges.
Ike made the call while reacting to the Presidency's response to comments by the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, following the recent meeting between President Tinubu and members of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria.
The cleric said government officials should embrace constructive criticism instead of attacking individuals who raise concerns about governance.
According to him, advisers who fail to present the true situation of the country to the President are doing the administration a disservice.
"If people working for the Presidency continue to peddle falsehoods and fail to offer sincere advice, the government will not achieve the desired results. Turning patriotic citizens into enemies simply because they speak the truth is unfortunate," he said.
Ike maintained that political leaders have both constitutional and moral responsibilities to confront the nation's economic hardship and worsening insecurity rather than downplaying the problems.
"You are not only a political leader; you also have a moral obligation to address the nation's challenges. If the task becomes overwhelming, then you should step aside," he stated.
The priest defended the Catholic bishops' intervention, insisting they merely spoke on issues affecting Nigerians and should not be accused of pursuing political interests.
He said President Tinubu deserved credit for his efforts but argued that leadership also required openness to honest feedback and practical suggestions.
"We are not saying the President is doing nothing. He is making efforts, but sometimes one's best is still insufficient. Government becomes stronger when it listens to genuine advice," he added.
Ike also dismissed claims that Cardinal Onaiyekan breached any confidence by discussing the meeting with the President, arguing that issues such as insecurity, the economy and education were matters of public concern.
He urged the President to surround himself with people willing to tell him the truth rather than those who present a false picture of the country's situation.
"What the President needs to do is listen to sincere advice, remove those feeding him misleading information and be honest with Nigerians about the country's realities," Ike said.
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