The Northern Christian Association (NCA) has thrown its weight behind the Catholic Bishops following their recent meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while cautioning the President’s Aide, Daniel Bwala, against divisive politics capable of undermining Christian unity.

The Association said the Catholic Bishops who met with the President spoke on issues affecting not only Catholics but also Christians and Nigerians in general, insisting that their message was one of national interest, humanity and good governance.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Chairman of the Northern Christian Association, Reverend Joseph John Hayab, said the association would not allow anyone to create division within the Christian community for political reasons.

He stressed that members of the NCA cut across all major Christian denominations, including the Catholic Church, Baptist, ECWA, Methodist, Anglican, Pentecostal and other churches.

“We should tell Bwala to know that Catholics are Christians and Nigerians.
Our members are Catholics, Baptist, ECWA, Methodist, Anglican, Pentecostals and people of all denominations. We refuse to be divided by Bwala’s politics of division,” Hayab stated.

He remarked, the Cardinal and the Catholic Bishops who visited President Tinubu deserved respect, noting that they met with the President to discuss issues concerning humanity, Christians and the welfare of all Nigerians rather than matters affecting only the Catholic Church.

“Our Cardinal is our respected leader and the Bishops that visited the President went to speak to him about humanity, Christians and all of us, not only Catholics,” he said.

Hayab described it as “shameful and a disservice” to President Tinubu for his spokesperson to disrespect the Cardinal, maintaining that the bishops offered honest counsel intended to help the President succeed and move the country forward.

“It is therefore shameful and a disservice to Tinubu for his spokesperson to disrespect our Cardinal. An honest counsel has been given to Mr. President for his own good and for a better Nigeria,” he added.

The NCA Chairman further warned that any government official who chooses propaganda over addressing the genuine concerns of citizens was doing more harm than good to the nation.

According to him, public office holders who ignore the realities facing Nigerians in pursuit of personal or political interests should be seen as contributing to the country’s challenges rather than helping to solve them.

“Any voice of greed, propaganda or disconnect with the citizens by any government appointee like Bwala should be seen as those destroying the country for their selfish interest, not minding the larger population,” Hayab said.

He cautioned that unless the country’s challenges were addressed, all Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliation, would bear the consequences.

“Sadly for people like Bwala, if things do not improve, we shall all suffer together and live to see our country not growing as it should be,” he further stated.

Hayab reaffirmed the association’s confidence in the Catholic Bishops, describing them as patriotic leaders whose intervention was motivated by genuine concern for both President Tinubu and the nation.

“The NCA knows that our Catholic Bishops mean well and love the President and the country more than those insulting their honest counsel,” he said.

The NCA called on political office holders to pay greater attention to the substance of the concerns raised by religious leaders and other stakeholders, rather than resorting to comments capable of creating unnecessary divisions among Nigerians.