By Adeola Badru
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abayomi Nurain Mumuni, has said religious institutions should continue to provide moral guidance on national issues. At the same time, elected governments must be allowed to discharge their constitutional responsibility of governing, as public debate continues over the recent exchange between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria.
Mumuni submitted a statement issued on Monday through his media aide, Rasheed Abubakar, following the nationwide reactions that trailed the July 28 meeting between President Tinubu and Catholic bishops at the Presidential Villa, where the country’s economic, security and political challenges dominated discussions.
The meeting came under public scrutiny after the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, disclosed that President Tinubu disagreed with concerns raised by the bishops over Nigeria’s economy, insecurity and political climate during the closed-door meeting.
The bishops had reportedly expressed concern over the rising cost of living, worsening insecurity and the country’s political direction, urging the Federal Government to intensify efforts to address the mounting challenges confronting Nigerians.
President Tinubu, however, maintained that his administration was making steady progress in addressing the nation’s difficulties, a position that has since generated widespread national discourse.
Commenting on the development, Mumuni said religious leaders have an important place in democratic societies and should not be discouraged from speaking on issues affecting the wellbeing of citizens, provided their interventions are motivated by the public interest.
Mumuni, a security expert, described Nigeria’s economic and security challenges as real, longstanding and well documented, stressing that they required sustained commitment and collaborative efforts involving government, civil society organisations and the citizenry.
“The contributions of religious leaders to national conversations are both legitimate and necessary in a democratic society, provided such engagements are aimed at advancing the public good rather than deepening divisions,” he said.
According to him, “Religious leaders have every right to express concern over issues affecting their communities and the wellbeing of Nigerians. Such interventions should be regarded as valuable contributions to national development rather than acts of hostility.”
The APC chieftain, however, insisted that constitutional boundaries between religious institutions and government must be respected to preserve democratic governance.
“While religious organisations are expected to provide moral leadership, advocate justice and address social concerns, governments derive their authority from the electorate and therefore bear the constitutional responsibility for governance, public administration and policy implementation,” he stated.
Mumuni argued that maintaining the constitutional separation between the two institutions allows each to function effectively in its respective sphere of responsibility.
“Respecting these institutional boundaries strengthens democratic governance and enables both religious institutions and government to function effectively in the overall public interest,” he added.
He further called on political leaders, religious organisations and Nigerians to embrace dialogue anchored on mutual respect, tolerance and openness, urging stakeholders not to interpret opposing views as acts of hostility.
Mumuni said productive national discourse requires “different viewpoints to be acknowledged with respect, discussions to remain focused on substantive national issues rather than personalities, government officials, critics and citizens to engage one another in pursuit of shared national interests, and public debate to be guided by facts and proper context.”
He maintained that disagreements over public policy are inevitable in any democracy. Still, he should always be managed in ways that strengthen democratic institutions and promote national cohesion rather than deepen divisions.
The security expert further observed that many of Nigeria’s present economic and security challenges were inherited from previous administrations, noting that the country’s current realities are rooted in longstanding structural problems accumulated over several years.
While acknowledging that the Tinubu administration inherited many of these challenges, Mumuni said Nigerians are equally justified in expecting the government to continue implementing practical policies capable of improving security, stabilising the economy and enhancing citizens’ welfare.
He, however, urged political leaders, religious institutions and the wider public to preserve the dignity of national discourse, insisting that “constructive engagement, mutual respect and a commitment to the national interest remain essential for addressing Nigeria’s challenges and strengthening its democracy.”
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