Heed Catholic bishops’ warning on economy, Timi Frank tells Tinubu

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Timi Frank, has applauded the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria for what he described as their courage in confronting President Bola Tinubu with the realities of the country’s economic and political challenges.

Frank said the bishops demonstrated uncommon leadership by speaking truly to the president on issues ranging from economic hardship to concerns over Nigeria’s democratic future, urging other religious leaders across the country to emulate their example.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the former APC spokesman said the bishops deserved commendation for “looking the president in the face and telling him the bitter truth about the state of the nation.”

“We commend the Catholic leaders for their courage. We have not seen this kind of courage from religious leaders in Nigeria for a long time. They were brave enough to look the President in the face and tell him the bitter truth,” Frank said.

He urged Tinubu to take the bishops’ observations seriously, insisting that acting on their recommendations would help restore public confidence in his administration.

“The President should heed their advice. By doing so, he will save himself from further embarrassment. These are true leaders, and we expect other religious bodies to follow the example set by the Catholic leaders,” he added.

Frank also challenged Christian and Muslim leaders to speak more openly on issues affecting Nigerians instead of limiting their engagements with government officials to prayers and ceremonial visits.

According to him, religious leaders have a moral obligation to hold those in authority accountable, especially at a time when many Nigerians are facing economic hardship and insecurity.

“When they have the opportunity to tell the president the truth, they simply say they are praying for him. But they know the truth. They know the damage that has been done in this country. How long will they continue to sit and pray when they should be speaking the truth?” he asked.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria has consistently used its engagements with successive administrations to raise concerns about national issues, including insecurity, economic hardship, governance, corruption and the protection of democratic institutions.

In last week’s interactions with Tinubu, the bishops reportedly urged the Federal Government to tackle worsening living conditions, strengthen democratic institutions and guard against any actions capable of undermining Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.

Frank’s remarks add to the growing public debate over the state of the economy, governance and preparations for the 2027 general elections, with opposition figures and civil society organisations continuing to demand greater accountability and institutional independence from the Federal Government.