Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Northern Christian Association (NCA) has declared its unwavering support for the Catholic Bishops following their recent meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, warning the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Daniel Bwala, against engaging in what it described as divisive politics aimed at sowing discord within the Christian community.
The association maintained that the Catholic Bishops spoke not only on behalf of the Catholic faithful but also addressed issues affecting Christians across denominations and Nigerians at large.
According to the NCA, the bishops’ engagement with the President was driven by national interest, compassion for the suffering of citizens, and a commitment to good governance rather than sectarian concerns.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Chairman of the Northern Christian Association, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, said the association would resist every attempt to politicize or misrepresent the bishops’ position in a way that could fracture Christian unity for partisan gain.
Hayab emphasized that the NCA is a broad-based Christian body representing virtually all major denominations in Northern Nigeria, including the Catholic Church, Baptist, ECWA, Methodist, Anglican, Pentecostal, and other Christian fellowships.
He stressed that any attack on one denomination over issues of national concern should be regarded as an affront to the entire Christian community.
“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 said.
He said 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 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 urged political office holders to focus on addressing the critical issues and legitimate concerns raised by religious leaders and other stakeholders, rather than making inflammatory remarks or engaging in rhetoric capable of deepening divisions and undermining national unity.
