By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Jibrin Okutepa, has defended the Catholic Bishops’ assessment of the state of the nation, accusing political loyalists around President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of trivialising hard truths instead of confronting the country’s deepening economic and security challenges.
Reacting to the backlash that followed the recent meeting between President Tinubu and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Okutepa argued that the clerics merely reflected the harsh realities facing millions of Nigerians and should be commended rather than attacked.
According to him, one of the greatest challenges confronting governance in Nigeria is the unwillingness of those in positions of authority to accept honest feedback.
“In most cases, truth hurts people in power,” he said, lamenting that those who speak for the President chose to dismiss the bishops’ message instead of addressing the concerns they raised about widespread poverty and hardship.
The senior lawyer blamed what he described as sycophants in the corridors of power for allegedly preventing the President from receiving accurate information about the condition of ordinary Nigerians.
He said many citizens can no longer afford basic necessities, while insecurity continues to claim lives across the country. According to him, countless Nigerians also die because of inadequate healthcare facilities, while public officials insulated by the privileges of office remain disconnected from the realities of everyday life.
Okutepa noted that many civil servants struggle to survive despite earning salaries and allowances, saying their income is often insufficient to provide food, shelter and basic welfare for their families.
He questioned why leaders should be offended by constructive criticism, insisting that telling the truth is essential to finding lasting solutions to Nigeria’s problems.
The SAN further alleged that many public office holders are unable to visit their own communities because of the activities of bandits, while numerous rural areas remain without electricity and other essential infrastructure.
He also expressed concern over what he described as a growing loss of public confidence in democratic institutions, alleging that justice has become increasingly inaccessible to victims of injustice and that institutions meant to guarantee accountability have become weakened.
Okutepa maintained that corruption remains deeply entrenched, while unemployment continues to deny graduates meaningful opportunities.
He further alleged that employment in many instances is driven by personal connections rather than merit and questioned whether the President was adequately informed about the realities confronting job seekers.
The senior lawyer also raised concerns over the distribution of increased federal allocations to states, alleging that while governors now receive more resources, many local governments are still deprived of their statutory allocations.
He urged those serving in government to provide the President with honest assessments rather than misleading information that benefits only political insiders.
Okutepa stressed that Nigerians are yearning for improved roads, quality healthcare, better schools and affordable housing, warning that politicising legitimate criticism would only worsen the country’s economic and social challenges.
He concluded by urging critics to stop attacking the Catholic Bishops, insisting that the clerics spoke in the interest of both Nigerians and the President by presenting what he described as the unvarnished truth about the state of the nation.
