Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, has said that Catholic Bishops have a long-standing tradition of speaking truth to power and have never been partisan.

His comments come amid a debate following remarks by Cardinal and former Archbishop of Abuja, John Onaiyekan, on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

Speaking during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Friday, Onaiyekan said the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) told President Tinubu during a recent meeting at the State House that the country’s economic situation was taking a heavy toll on poor Nigerians.

He also alleged that the president was not receiving accurate briefings on the realities confronting the country.

The cardinal said the President is bent on winning the 2027 general election “by all means”, warning that the government’s access to state resources could threaten the credibility of the electoral process.

However, in an X post defending his principal, Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Policy Communication, faulted Onaiyekan’s remarks as being politically motivated.

Bwala said the former Abuja Archbishop was speaking only for Catholics and not for all Christians, adding that the cardinal was “more political than spiritual.”

He also defended Tinubu’s response to the bishops’ assessment of the economy, saying the president’s position was based on facts and statistics.

But in a post on his X handle on Saturday, Shehu Sani, also a public commentator, said the Catholic Bishops had consistently spoken truth to successive governments since the era of military rule.

“From the era of Military rule and throughout the period of civilian Governments, the Catholic Bishops have a consistent history of telling truth to power.”

He said the bishops had never been partisan in their dealings with political leaders, stating that they had always presented every president they visited with bitter kola instead of olive oil.

“They have never been partisan. Every President they visited, they bring him a gift of Bitter Kola instead of Olive Oil,” Sani wrote.

The mother of an eight-year-old girl allegedly defiled by an operative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Bauchi State has called for justice, expressing deep concern over delays in prosecuting the suspect.

The mother’s appeal was made public through her legal counsel, Barrister Alkasim Mohammed, a human rights lawyer representing the African Child Development and Human Right Protection.

According to the counsel, the incident occurred when the victim was sent to buy a sachet of water at the residence of the suspect, identified as 45-year-old Muhammad Mustapha Makama, a neighbour to the victim’s family.

He said the suspect allegedly lured and had carnal knowledge of the minor.

According to report,the case was promptly reported by the victim’s mother, Salamatu Musa, at the E Division of the Bauchi State Police Command on July 5, 2026.

Following the report, the police arrested Makama, and he has reportedly remained in police custody for almost three weeks without being charged in court.

Frustrated by the prolonged detention without trial, the human rights organisation petitioned the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police.

While commending the police for arresting a security personnel, Barrister Alkasim raised alarm over alleged behind-the-scenes moves by certain figures to secure the suspect’s release.

The lawyer noted that the Bauchi State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice had already issued legal advice and an opinion on July 23, 2023, favouring the prosecution of the suspect based on available evidence, facts, and medical reports.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Nafiu Habib, confirmed the arrest of the suspect and assured the public that he would soon be charged in court.

A 41-year-old herder, Musa Lawal, reportedly collapsed after 42 of his cows died in Koroko community, Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The FCT Treasurer of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Yahuza Ibrahim, confirmed the incident in a report on Thursday.

According to Ibrahim, the incident occurred on Tuesday at about 6:12pm when two of the herder’s sons took the cattle out to graze.

He said the animals were later found dead at different locations in the bush after grazing, raising suspicions that they may have consumed grass contaminated with chemicals.
“Immediately we received the report, I alerted the MACBAN chairman, who directed me to proceed to the scene. We discovered that 42 cows had died. We suspect they may have eaten grass that had been sprayed with chemicals,” he said.

Ibrahim said Lawal rushed to the scene after receiving news of the incident but collapsed after discovering that 42 of his cows had died.

He said the herder was immediately taken to the General Hospital in Kwali, where he was admitted before being discharged on Wednesday after recovering from the shock.

He added that the chairman of Kwali Area Council, Hon. Nuhu Daniel Kwali, accompanied by Fulani community leaders, visited the family to sympathise with them over the loss.

Confirming the incident, chairman of Kwali Area Council, Hon. Nuhu Daniel Kwali, said he received the report with shock and sadness.

The chairman said the council had directed the relevant security agencies, including the Department of State Services and other security operatives, to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the deaths.

He added that the council was also considering measures to support the affected herder to cushion the impact of the loss and prevent any possible breakdown of peace between farmers and herders in the area.