… Urges FG To Open Up For Criticisms

The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has expressed support and solidarity with the Catholic cleric,  John Cardinal Onaiyekan on his position about the  poverty ravaging the nation, while condemning the federal government over attack on the Christian cleric .

The group also said that it stood by the position of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) during the meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to the members of MBF, “We condemn the unwarranted attacks against Cardinal Onaiyekan for speaking the truth about the harsh living conditions facing millions of Nigerians”.

In a statement by the Spokesman of MBF, Luka Binniyat, “following the meeting between the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on 24 July 2026, the bishops frankly told the President that many of his economic policies had deepened poverty, worsened hardship and failed to substantially improve the security situation across the country among other issues raised.”

The middle belt group however, stated, “President Tinubu, however, disagreed with their assessment and maintained that his reforms were yielding positive results. In a subsequent interview on Channels Television, Cardinal Onaiyekan observed that the President appeared not to be receiving accurate information from those around him and therefore did not fully appreciate the true situation confronting ordinary Nigerians.”

Besides, the Binniyat noted, “instead of reflecting on this sincere observation, some presidential aides and supporters, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, accused the respected cleric of playing politics”, pointing out that “the MBF believes those attacks are unfair, unnecessary and completely misplaced”.

“Cardinal Onaiyekan merely echoed what millions of Nigerians experience every day. He spoke neither as a politician nor as an opposition figure. The Cardinal spoke as a patriotic Nigerian and a respected religious leader who has consistently stood for justice, peace and the welfare of all citizens. For the people of the Middle Belt, the reality is even more painful.”

Binniyat explained, “our communities have endured years of relentless attacks by Islamist terrorists and armed Fulani ethnic militias. Tinubu’s government has not made noticeable improvement on the situation.”

“Thousands of innocent people have been murdered, while millions of Nigerians remain internally displaced, with a significant number coming from Benue, Plateau, Southern Kaduna, Niger, Borno and other parts of the Middle Belt. Entire villages have been destroyed, churches and schools burnt, and vast stretches of fertile farmland abandoned or occupied by terrorists,” he added.

He said, “the consequences have been devastating. Farmers can no longer cultivate their land. Families have lost their homes, businesses and means of livelihood. Children have been forced out of school, while countless widows, orphans and elderly people now depend on humanitarian assistance simply to survive. Government assistance to them is almost nil. It would be unreasonable to interpret them as political talking points. They are the painful realities confronting our people every single day in the Middle Belt.”

Binniyat continued: “this is not to say that the Middle Belt Forum  does not acknowledge the courage and sacrifices of our gallant military and other security agencies. Many officers and men have paid the supreme price in defence of our nation. However, despite their commitment and bravery, the security crisis continues to deny millions of Nigerians the opportunity to live, farm, move without fear and conduct legitimate businesses in peace.”

According to him, “this truth should not be ignored simply because it is uncomfortable. The economic realities are equally undeniable. While the national minimum wage has increased from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000 under President Tinubu, its real value has declined sharply. In 2022, the ₦30,000 minimum wage was worth roughly US$65 at the official exchange rate.”

He stressed further, “today, despite the higher nominal wage, ₦70,000 is worth only about US$50 at the current official exchange rate. This means that many workers earn more naira but command less value in real terms. Even more important is the purchasing power of that income. Since the introduction of the administration’s economic reforms, Nigerians have witnessed unprecedented increases in the prices of petrol,  food, transportation, electricity, cooking gas, healthcare, school fees and other essential goods and services.”

The statement noted, “the naira has depreciated dramatically, moving from an official exchange rate of about ₦460 to one US dollar in 2022 to about ₦1,368 to one US dollar today. The inevitable consequence is that millions of families can no longer afford the basic necessities of life. The important question therefore is this: Are Nigerians genuinely better off today than they were before these reforms? For millions of struggling families, especially those displaced by terrorism and violent attacks across the Middle Belt, the answer is painfully obvious.”

Meanwhile, the Middle Belt Forum has urged President Tinubu “to welcome constructive criticism instead of allowing loyalists to attack every honest voice that points out the suffering of the people. Leaders become stronger when they listen to uncomfortable truths, not when they surround themselves with those who tell them only what they wish to hear”.

“We respectfully call on the President to undertake an independent assessment of the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians, particularly those who have lost everything to terrorism and violent attacks. Let him hear directly from displaced farmers, widows, market women, unemployed youths and community leaders instead of relying solely on official briefings”, Binniyat said.

“Their testimonies will present a clearer picture of the country’s realities than any prepared report. The Middle Belt Forum therefore stands firmly with the CBCN and His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan. Speaking the truth about poverty, insecurity and human suffering is not politics. We believe that it is a constitutional right, a moral obligation and a patriotic duty that the CBCN owes its laity and every suffering citizen”, he added.