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Church and State Relationship: The Imperative of Speaking Truth to Political Power

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu hosted a delegation from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), led by CBCN President and Archbishop of Kaduna Most Rev. Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, for a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on July 28, 2026. [1, 2]

Key Issues Raised by the Bishops
  • Insecurity: The bishops stated that widespread insecurity and violent attacks in parts of the country were undermining the administration’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, emphasizing that citizens must feel secure before engaging in civic duties. [1]
  • Economic Hardship: The clerics presented the grim reality of widespread poverty, food inflation, and economic difficulties faced by ordinary Nigerians, remarking that “the country is bleeding”. [1, 2, 3]
  • Governance and Elections: Discussions also touched upon the 2027 general elections and the importance of maintaining credible democratic systems and electoral neutrality. [1, 2]
Reactions and Aftermath
  • President Tinubu’s Stance: The President defended his administration’s track record, pointing to ongoing economic reforms, security personnel welfare improvements, and stability in tertiary education, while maintaining that his administration is steering the country on the right path. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  • The Controversy: Following the visit, Cardinal John Onaiyekan (Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja) stated in a television interview that President Tinubu rejected the bishops’ assessment and seemed unhappy with their frank portrayal of the nation. This drew sharp pushback and criticism from presidential spokespersons and government officials, who accused the cleric of partisan bias and misusing his office. [1, 2, 3
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“Church Life Africa” drives the New Evangelization, one Christian at a time.

Members of Church Life Africa (CLA) are mobilizing youthful Catholic laity in an initiative aimed at realizing a theological renewal on the continent. In an interview with ACI Africa following the 2025 Church Life Africa Conference held at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), CLA Coordinator, Fr. Kenneth Amadi, said that the initiative seeks to gather “foot soldiers” to become deeply rooted in theology, confident in Catholic culture, and prepared to serve Africa and the global Church with clarity, courage, and faith.

CLA was conceived at the University of Notre Dame in the United States, inspired by two realizations: the West’s growing assertion that Africa represents the Church’s future, and the success of the American Church in cultivating a theologically empowered lay apostolate.

“We kept hearing over and over again that the future of the Church is in Africa, but Ireland once had 100% Mass attendance. Europe was once the center of Christendom. Today, those Churches are in crisis. So, we began to ask: What does it really mean to say the future of the Church is in Africa? Surely, it has to be more than numbers.” The Clergy of Nigeria’s Abuja Archdiocese explained.

Fr. Amadi noted that CLA targets young Catholic undergraduates and graduates. He explained, “We want to invest in them as lay theologians, as faith ambassadors. These are people who would not just engage in superficial faith practices but deeply understand and live out the core tenets of Catholicism.”

“It’s not just the Priests or Religious that should drive the Church. We, the lay faithful, have a key part to play. Church Life Africa is helping us realize our responsibility in contributing to the Church’s growth.

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