RismadarVoice Reporters, August 3, 2026
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who represents Abia North, has said the economic hardship and insecurity facing Nigerians cannot be attributed to President Bola Tinubu, arguing instead that politicians routinely feed the President a distorted view of the country’s situation.
Kalu made the remarks in a video that has since gone viral, responding to the recent visit by members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria to Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
During that meeting, the bishops raised concerns about the country’s economy, security situation, and political climate.
Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, later revealed that Tinubu pushed back on the bishops’ assessment, maintaining that his administration was headed in the right direction.
Kalu defends Tinubu, praises the Bishops. Despite acknowledging the difficulties Nigerians face, Kalu stopped short of laying responsibility at Tinubu’s door.
“The Catholic bishops are aware of the situation in the country. There are real difficulties in Nigeria, but they are not President Tinubu’s fault,” he said.
The former Abia State governor described the bishops as a moral compass for the country, saying their counsel was always offered in the national interest rather than in support of or opposition to any government.
“The Catholic bishops are the conscience of the country, and once they give advice, their advice is not for or against; it’s just for any sitting President to see things the way they should be,” Kalu said.
He also welcomed the bishops’ decision to meet Tinubu directly, saying it gave the President a clearer picture of what ordinary Nigerians are experiencing.
