In a recent statement via his official X account on Tuesday August 4, 2026, human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has continued to defend Cardinal John Onaiyekan amid criticism from supporters of President Bola Tinubu following the cleric’s remarks on the state of the nation.
”You expect people who paraded fake bishops to listen to a real Cardinal?”.
In his post, Effiong took a swipe at those attacking the former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, he suggested that individuals who previously associated with controversial religious figures were now unwilling to pay attention to the concerns raised by a respected Catholic cardinal.
He made reference to the controversy that followed the 2023 presidential election, when some individuals presented as bishops attended an event linked to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, the incident generated public debate after questions were raised about the identities of some of the clerics present.
Effiong condemned what he described as attempts to ridicule Cardinal Onaiyekan, he argued that the cleric deserved respect because of his long-standing reputation and contributions to national discourse.
The exchange followed comments made by Onaiyekan concerning governance and conditions in the country, the cardinal’s views sparked reactions from both supporters and critics of the current administration, leading to heated discussions across social media platforms.
Effiong maintained that respected religious leaders should not become targets of personal attacks simply because they express opinions on national issues, according to him, disagreement with a public figure’s views should not result in insults or attempts to discredit the individual.
