The Northern Christians Association has supported the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria over their recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu, accusing the president’s special adviser on media and public communications, Daniel Bwala, of attempting to sow disunity within the Christian community.
According to the group, the Catholic bishops spoke not only about concerns affecting the Catholic Church but also about Christians and Nigerians in general, claiming that their participation was in the national interest.
The NCA’s stance stems from a dispute generated by comments attributed to Bwala after the Catholic bishops met with Tinubu and expressed worries about the country’s socioeconomic and security difficulties.
He emphasized that the NCA comprises members from virtually all Christian denominations in Northern Nigeria, including the Catholic Church, Baptist, ECWA, Methodist, Anglican, and Pentecostal churches.
“We should tell Bwala to know that Catholics are Christians and Nigerians.
“Our members are Catholics, Baptists, ECWA, Methodists, Anglicans, Pentecostals, and people of all denominations. We refuse to be divided by Bwala’s politics of division,” Hayab said.
The cleric said the Catholic bishops and Cardinal John Onaiyekan deserved respect, noting that they met Tinubu to discuss issues impacting humanity, Christians, and all Nigerians, not only the Catholic Church.
“Our Cardinal is our respected leader, and the bishops that visited the President went to speak to him about humanity, Christians, and all of us, not only Catholics,” he said.
Hayab called it “shameful and a disservice” to the president for his spokesperson to disrespect the cardinal, claiming that the bishops were simply offering serious advice to help the administration address the nation’s difficulties.
“It is therefore shameful and a disservice to Tinubu for his spokesperson to disrespect our Cardinal.
“An honest counsel has been given to Mr. President for his own good and for a better Nigeria,” he added.
The NCA chairman also criticized what he saw as a rising propensity among government officials to ignore valid concerns expressed by religious leaders and other stakeholders.
According to him, appointees who use propaganda rather than confronting Nigerians’ realities are doing more harm than good.
“Any voice of greed, propaganda, or disconnect with the citizens by any government appointee like Bwala should be seen as those destroying the country for their selfish interest, not minding the larger population,” Hayab said.
He issued a warning that unless Nigeria’s mounting challenges were urgently addressed, the consequences would affect all citizens, regardless of political affiliation.
“Sadly for people like Bwala, if things do not improve, we shall all suffer together and live to see our country not growing as it should be,” he said.
Hayab reaffirmed the association’s faith in the Catholic bishops, describing them as patriotic leaders dedicated to the country’s progress.
“The NCA knows that our Catholic bishops mean well and love the President and the country more than those insulting their honest counsel,” he stated.
He asked political leaders to respond constructively to religious leaders’ concerns rather than making comments that could further divide Nigerians.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, during its meeting with Tinubu, urged the federal government to take more decisive steps to tackle insecurity, economic hardship, and other challenges confronting the country.
The remarks sparked public debate, with Bwala’s reaction attracting criticism from some Christian groups, including the Northern Christian Association.
