Political analyst defends Cardinal's Tinubu criticism: 'Everybody sees failure but him'

Political analyst Kabiru Ojo defended Cardinal John Onaiyekan's criticism of President Tinubu's government, saying the cleric merely repeated what Tinubu himself has repeatedly stated about excellent security and economic performance. Speaking to DAILY POST, Ojo argued that while Tinubu insists the nation is safe and the economy is doing fine, ordinary Nigerians see widespread failure and hardship in their daily lives.

Ojo noted this disconnect was evident during the nationwide End Bad Governance protests when northern Islamic scholars met Tinubu at the Presidential Villa. Despite their concerns about economic hardship, Tinubu maintained there was no hidden cabal controlling his administration and insisted his government was performing well. Ojo said the President told them he single-handedly funded his campaign across all 36 states.

The analyst emphasized that Onaiyekan, in his ARISE NEWS interview, wasn't making political claims but simply stating what many Nigerians experience: that removing fuel subsidy and other policies haven't improved living conditions. Presidency spokesman Daniel Bwala rejected the Cardinal's comments, accusing him of speaking for the Catholic Church rather than all Christians and making political rather than spiritual remarks.

With 2027 elections approaching, this exchange highlights the growing gap between government assessments of national conditions and the lived reality of citizens facing economic strain. Will you trust official statistics about Nigeria's economy and security, or trust your own experience of daily survival struggles?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/08/04/everybody-sees-failure-except-tinubu-ojo-backs-onaiyekan/