Cardinal John Onaiyekan has reacted to former President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent call for forgiveness, describing the gesture as a significant spiritual move but one that raises deeper questions about the sincerity and intent behind it.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time Show, the Catholic cardinal said Buhari’s appeal for forgiveness, made shortly before his death, appeared to stem from religious reflection, particularly in light of his advancing age and mortality.
“This is a difficult discussion,” Onaiyekan began, “in the sense that definitely it is impressive when someone at his age, and with all that he has done, would ask that those whom he has hurt should forgive him.”
However, the cardinal questioned whether the apology stemmed from genuine remorse, noting that being a head of state often requires making decisions that will inevitably cause pain to others.
He interpreted Buhari’s statement as part of a final effort to make peace with his conscience and his faith.
He said, “We can presume that he knows first that he must have hurt many people, but what we don’t know is whether he is asking for forgiveness because he hurt them deliberately, or whether the hurt that he caused was really not true. He has no guilt about those hurts.
“When you are a head of state, you step on many toes. Sometimes, too, you have to step on some toes. So, it’s not out here, but it was wise of him to say, let Nigerians forgive me.
“I imagine I’m taking that from the point of view of his faith, of his religious position. He’s a man who believes that it’s time to start putting your house in order with the almighty God. I think he has done that.”
While acknowledging the former president’s attempt at reconciliation, the cardinal called on living political leaders to reflect on the message.
He added, “We should learn from that. Also, those of us who are still alive, those of them who are still expecting many, many years, they should learn that they have plenty of time to serve God and serve the neighbour.”
Cardinal Onaiyekan’s remarks come in the wake of Buhari’s death in London at age 82 and his subsequent burial in Daura, Katsina State, in line with Islamic rites.
