By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Former Kaduna Central Senator, , has defended the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria following recent public discourse surrounding their meeting with President Bola Tinubu, describing the bishops as one of the country’s most consistent moral voices that have never shied away from confronting leaders with uncomfortable truths.
Sani made the remarks against the backdrop of President Tinubu’s response to members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, where the President addressed concerns raised by the clerics on the state of the nation, including worsening economic hardship and insecurity.
In a statement shared on his social media platform, the former lawmaker said the Catholic Bishops have maintained an unwavering tradition of speaking truth to power from the era of military rule through successive civilian administrations.
According to him, the bishops have consistently demonstrated independence and moral courage regardless of who occupies the nation’s highest office.
“From the era of military rule and throughout the period of civilian governments, the Catholic Bishops have a consistent history of telling truth to power. They have never been partisan,” Sani stated.
Using a symbolic analogy, the former senator said every Nigerian President who has hosted the bishops received “bitter kola instead of olive oil,” suggesting that the clerics have always delivered frank, honest and often uncomfortable messages rather than praise or flattery.
His remarks are widely seen as a defence of the Church’s long-standing role in holding governments accountable and advocating policies that promote justice, equity and good governance.
The intervention comes amid public debate over President Tinubu’s recent engagement with the Catholic Bishops, during which the President responded to concerns over the country’s economic challenges by acknowledging that hardship, including hunger, had existed long before his administration while assuring Nigerians that ongoing reforms would ultimately yield positive results.
Sani’s comments have since attracted attention on social media, with many observers interpreting them as a reminder of the Church’s historic role in national discourse and its commitment to constructive criticism, irrespective of the political party or administration in power.
The former senator has, over the years, been known for speaking on issues of governance, democracy and human rights, often urging leaders to embrace criticism as an essential ingredient of accountable leadership.
